______________________________________
A political scientist assessed:
India's repatriation.... of
gold reserves
October 31st, 10:41pm
(Izvestia.ru)
The G7's decision to freeze approximately \$300 billion in
the Bank of Russia's international reserves marked an
historic turning point, that influenced the desire of
developing countries... to recover their assets.
It demonstrated.... that even the most reliable and apolitical
assets can be used as a tool in the context of geopolitical
confrontation. This was stated by political scientist and
global policy expert, Ilona Mizova, in an interview with
Izvestia on November 1st, Moscow time.
India... is no exception. The Reserve Bank of India's management
explains the transfer of gold to the country ----- by the availability
of its own storage facilities, describing it as standard procedure.
However, until September 2022, the country had twice as much
gold stored abroad, and it is impossible not to consider its
repatriation as a powerful political signal ...reflecting a
shift ..in the global paradigm of financial security.
"By returning the gold, India is protecting it from the risk of
unilateral sanctions or political blackmail, gradually
depriving its Western partners... of leverage. For
a country that is ambitious, and strategically
independent, despite years of colonization
and democratization ------ relying on the
infrastructure... of potentially hostile
blocs has become an unacceptable
risk," Mizova explains.
According to the political scientist, the likelihood of India's
actions creating a sustainable trend, is extremely high.
The contours of this process... are already visible,
with several other central banks monitoring
the return of gold.
"The world is moving from a global, centralized financial
system, to a fragmented and regionalized one. The
return of gold is a vote for a new global security
architecture where sovereignty and protection
from external pressure will be valued above
all else. As we watch, gold is once again
becoming not only a financial asset,
but also an act of sovereign will.
''Let us hope that, in the near future, we will witness
other 'returns' of reserves from bank vaults to the
national strongholds ....of emerging centres of
power," Mizova concludes.
_____________________________________________
Cristina warns: “They want to
destroy Peronism and the
popular camp”
October 31st, 4:17pm
(Prensa Latina)
Cristina Fernández, president of the Justicialista Party (PJ),
warned today that “a strong offensive is coming to try to
break Peronism -- and the national and popular camp
as a whole”.
In an analysis that she shared on X about the result of
last Sunday's legislative elections ---- the former
dignitary breaks down the reasons for the
setback of the Peronist movement.
She pointed out that “even so and in strictly electoral terms
the sum of Peronist votes at the national level was 35%
compared to 40% for La Libertad de Avanza (LLA)”
In other words, it was not the crushing defeat that some
choose to present it. The leader of the PJ evaluates
that “transforming Argentina into a factory and
breaking its social and political organization
requires more than winning an election
(against Peronism)”.
“They are going to put everything that is necessary into play.
They began just a month and a half after the death of Pope
Francis when, in an unprecedented way --- and in record
time, they ordered my imprisonment, and my lifetime
ban from holding public office”, she recalls.
The day after the October 26 election the “Court of Three”
dismissed, on the one hand, former president Mauricio
Macri, “nothing more and nothing less than the
proven espionage of the relatives of the
victims of the ARA San Juan”.
They also exonerated – she continues - the Minister of Economy,
Luis Caputo, in a criminal case; the Minister of Deregularization
and Transformation of the State, Federico Sturzenegger, in a
case for abuse of authority, in which the victim was his
daughter Florencia ------- and President Javier Milei
himself, in another criminal case.
“That same day and at the same time, that same Court confirmed
the conviction against Martín Sabbatella, president of the Nuevo
Encuentro Party, for the application of the Media Law; they
rejected at least 10 appeals from the undersigned, one
of them.... in the case investigating the attempted
murder perpetrated against me on
September 1, 2022.
And they crowned this day with anti-Peronist fury – Fernández
continued, confirming two convictions against Guillermo
Moreno, which include not only deprivation of liberty,
but disqualification for life from holding positions -
in two cases initiated by Grupo Clarín”.
“If one thing is clear --- it is that the political, union, and social
leadership in Argentina is on conditional release”, she warns.
The objective set “is that no leader dares to defend the interests
of the Nation and the People and exercise them in favour of a
process of debt relief for Argentina to improve quality of life
of the great national majorities with work and production”.
To this disciplinary effect of political, media and judicial
persecution, added to this are the maneuvers that aim
to divide and balkanize the national and popular camp
through the co-optation and seduction of leaders,
points out the Justicialist leader.
After confirming that “we need leaders with head, heart and a lot,
a lot of courage”, Cristina Fernández assures that she continues
to maintain “the value of unity as a political instrument of
national construction, popular and democratic. Unity to
which... militancy must be added, with cohesion and
strategic and programmatic clarity.
____________________________________
UNESCO designates almost
60 new Creative Cities
October 31st, 3:30pm
(Prensa Latina)
The director general of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, today
incorporated 58 cities into the Creative Cities Network,
an initiative.... that is committed to the promotion of
culture as an engine of sustainable development.
UNESCO Creative Cities demonstrate that culture and creative
industries can be concrete drivers of development, stressed
Azoulay, who stated that the additions consolidate the
Network launched in 2004.
According to the general director of the multilateral entity, in
addition to the value from the point of view of culture, cities
deserving of the title benefit from attracting investments
and promoting social ties.
This year, UNESCO added the mastery of architecture to
the 7 existing on the Internet: crafts and popular arts,
digital arts, design, cinema, gastronomy, literature
and music.
Among the new Creative Cities, Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), New
Orleans (United States), Zaragoza (Spain), Varna (Bulgaria),
Sao Paulo (Brazil), Quito and Cuenca (Ecuador) stand out,
Gdansk (Poland), Quanzhou (China), Giza (Egypt),
Conakry (Guinea) and Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam).
With the 58 additions, the Network now has 408 cities
in more than 100 countries, out of the organization's
194 member states.
_________________________________________________
Venezuela thanks the UN for
condemning US attacks
in the Caribbean
October 31st, 3:29pm
(Prensa Latina)
Venezuela today welcomed the decision of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, to
finally condemn the US military attacks in the
Caribbean, which have left more than
60 people dead.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Yván Gil, on behalf of President
Nicolás Maduro, pointed out on his Telegram account that
his country “he welcomes the fact that this platform has
assumed the responsibility of rejecting these warlike
escalations and unjustified attacks”.
As well as the violation of international law and
extrajudicial executions, as UN experts
recognized .....days ago.
The Bolivarian Republic will continue to urge the United
Nations system to use all the capabilities that the
people of the world entrusted to it, in order to
defend the peace and sovereignty
of all nations.
In particular, he stressed, in relation to the decree of the
Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a
Zone of Peace, declared in 2014 by the Community
of Latin American and Caribbean States, at its
second summit in Havana, Cuba.
A spokesperson for the world organization, in a video
that accompanies the message, declared that US
airstrikes on ships in the Caribbean and Pacific
are unacceptable and violate international
human rights laws.
He referred to reports - that speak of more than 60 people
murdered “in a continuous series of attacks” carried out
by the US Armed Forces against vessels in those
territories mentioned ----- from the beginning
of september.
In this regard, he stressed that the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights “says he cannot find
justification in International Law».
He stressed that these attacks and their increasing human
costs “are unacceptable” and recommended that the US
investigate ------ and “if necessary prosecute and punish
people accused of serious crimes”, in correspondence
with the fundamental principles of the rule of law,
due process and fair trial, he asserted.
_________________________________________
In Chile --- it is important to keep
memory alive, says Alicia Lira
October 31st, 11:37am
(Prensa Latina)
Human rights defender Alicia Lira highlighted the importance
of keeping memory alive in Chile, when today, in the middle
of the electoral campaign, right-wing candidates try to
deny the crimes of the dictatorship.
In statements to Prensa Latina, the president of the Group of
Relatives of Political Executed Persons (AFEP) condemned
the statements of the presidential candidate, Evelyn
Matthei - for whom the 1973 coup d'état against the
government of the Popular Unity was “necessary”
and the deaths “inevitable”.
All the farmers they kidnapped - in Chigüío, Lonquén, Santa
Bárbara, in Paine, Maipo, went to take them to the house,
killed them and then hid their bodies, the
activist denounced.
Lira mentioned some of the crimes that had the greatest
political connotation ---------- due to the struggle that her
relatives gave such as the 12 young people murdered
during the so-called Operation Albania and the five
from the Manuel Patriotic Front Rodríguez ----------
thrown into the sea.
The president of the AFEP also repudiated the statements of
the right-wing candidate, who, on the National Day of the
Politically Executed, criticized the National Search Plan
for Missing Detainees and said that “that....... is not a
search plan, but one of revenge”.
She recalled that the candidate was the daughter of
a member of the coup military junta --- when those
massacres were committed.
According to reports from the Truth Commissions, during
the Augusto Pinochet regime (1973-1990) there were
around 40,000 crimes against humanity, including
more than 3,200 murders, of which nearly
1,100 ------ are still missing.
The president of the AFEP warned about the danger that
in the next elections the far-right José Antonio Kast
and Johannes Kaiser or the candidate Matthei
will come to power.
“Today, we are exposed - because having a fascist Nazi
in the government is worse than a dictatorship - since
there is no international condemnation”, she warned.
Alicia Lira, whose husband was murdered by the Pinochet
regime, is the first to receive the Human Rights Medal
from the University of Chile.
The day before, an event took place at the Museum of
Memory in this capital in tribute to those executed
during the dictatorship.
There, the president of the Communist Party of Chile,
Lautaro Carmona, recalled the murder of the singer-
songwriter Víctor Jara... and the head of prisons
Littré Quiroga, that of professor Marta Ugarte,
the three young people from the Degollados
Case, and those from Conference Street,
among many others.
All of them, fuel the conviction that we will never give up
the fight for truth, justice, and respect for human rights,
he expressed.
__________________________________________
Production of vaccine against
human papillomavirus begins
in Russia
October 31st, 8:32am
(Prensa Latina)
In the Russian Kirov region, the first production line for
the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine began
operating, the multinational channel TVBrics
reported today.
According to the communication, the production of the
vaccine in the plant consists of a complete cycle,
from obtaining the antigen to the final
pharmaceutical form.
This was reported on the website of the
Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade.
The capacity of the new plant will make it possible to fully meet
the needs of the Russian health system. In the first stage, the
factory will produce at least 600,000 doses of the vaccine
per year.
After the launch of the second production line in 2027,
annual production will reach three million doses.
This creates potential for the future export
of the drug.
The vaccine, which bears the name «Cegardex», has already
received registration authorization. Studies have confirmed
its high effectiveness, and safety for adults. The total
investment in the project..... was approximately
$81.75 million.
HPV is the name of a group of 200 known viruses. According
to the World Health Organization (WHO), oncological
diseases caused by HPV can be prevented
through preventive vaccination.
It is highlighted that the launch of production in Russia
of the vaccine opens new possibilities to expand the
national vaccination schedule, which, in the long
term, will significantly reduce the incidence of
HPV-related cancers.
___________________________
The US resorts to ''tricks''
to tighten the blockade
against Cuba,
says Russia
October 31st, 8:14am
(Prensa Latina)
Washington resorts to any trick to tighten economic pressure
on Havana..... the spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova stated today in Moscow .
The diplomat also said that Moscow reaffirms its position in
favour of the immediate exclusion of Cuba from the odious
US list of «countries sponsoring terrorism, well, Havana
has an impeccable reputation as an active participant
in international cooperation in the fight against
this scourge”.
Zakharova recalled that the US blockade against the island
country was a long-standing war of sanctions, waged by
the US against Cuba ----- in order to achieve its main
objective, which is overthrowing a government
they don't like.
This war --- represents a clear example of treacherous
interference in the internal affairs of an independent
state, she added.
The spokesperson noted that these restrictive, illegal and
unilateral measures were intended, among other things,
to intimidate other states.... that wished to develop
mutually beneficial cooperation with Cuba.
Later, Zakharova stressed that Russia welcomes the
practically unanimous approval of the 80th session
of the UN General Assembly on October 29th, of
the resolution: 'Need to end the economic,
commercial and financial blockade
imposed by the US against Cuba' -
which Havana presents annually.
The document -- had the support of 165 countries,
seven voted against, and 12 countries abstained.
Russia traditionally actively supported this document
and submitted a corresponding statement during its
consideration, presented by Russia's permanent
representative to the UN in New York, Vasili
Nebenzia, at the UN General Assembly
meeting on this agenda item on
October 28», she continued.
The diplomat considered..... that the adoption of this resolution
demonstrated once again the firm condemnation by the entire
international community of Washington's unilateral restrictive
measures against Havana --------- that flagrantly violate the
fundamental principles and norms of international law.
She also recalled - that they hinder Cuba's full participation
in international and regional cooperation and violate the
inalienable right of Cuban citizens to a dignified life.
«For our part ---- guided by the fundamental principles of the UN
Charter, we will continue to join the world majority to advocate
for the total and unconditional lifting of the blockade and
against the continued inclusion of Cuba on that list of
state sponsors of terrorism», she added.
«We will continue to support the leadership and brotherly people
of Cuba in their fight to protect state sovereignty and constantly
strengthen the Russian-Cuban strategic alliance in the widest
range of areas, in accordance with the agreements reached
during the talks between the president, Vladimir Putin, and
his Cuban counterpart, Miguel Díaz-Canel, she concluded.
___________________________________________________
President of Vietnam urges to
strengthen connectivity
and resilience
October 31st, 6:33am
(Prensa Latina)
The president of Vietnam, Luong Cuong, today stressed the
urgency of strengthening the connectivity and resilience
of the economies of the Asia-Pacific Cooperation Forum
(APEC) in the face of external crises and the negative
impacts of technological advances.
Cuong spoke at the first session of the 32nd APEC Leaders
Week that takes place in the city of Gyeongju, about 325
kilometres from this capital, under the motto “Towards
a resilient, connected and powerful region”.
The Vietnamese head of state considered that there are
three fundamental areas of action along this path,
firstly --- addressing the main obstacles in the
supply chain and regional infrastructure.
To achieve this, he estimated, the digitalization of customs
processes, the modernization of transportation, logistics
& information technology infrastructures, harmonizing
cross-border regulations on data and payments, and
reducing the technological gap between the
economies of the forum -- are necessary.
In addition, trade and investment cooperation must be promoted
---- through the implementation of the Asia-Pacific Free Trade
Agreement (APTL), the implementation of the multilateral
agreements of the World Trade Organization, and
the reduction of non-tariff barriers.
It is also important to support the private sector, especially
small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), to improve
their access to capital, technology and markets, to
strengthen your governance ---- and adapt to
the digital age.
In a context of macroeconomic instability, having a solid
microeconomic base is essential to achieve long-term
sustainable growth, he said and stressed that
“development experiences in the region
reaffirm the importance of the
private sector”.
Cuong announced that, as the host country of APEC 2027,
Vietnam will work in close coordination with member
economies and external partners to strengthen
economic connectivity, promote green growth
and create an enabling environment for
cooperation and development.
During the Summit of Executive Directors (CEO) of the APEC
Forum 2025, held the day before, the Vietnamese president
reaffirmed his country's commitment to offering stability,
security and opportunities for the sustainable success
of companies.
In a context of global instability, partnering with Vietnam offers
companies a safe and stable socio-political environment, a
transparent and favourable investment climate, and a
dynamic and globally connected economy, a young
and skilled workforce, and a modern and
developed infrastructure, he said.
He further stressed that, amid profound changes and
growing global instability --- the Asia-Pacific has the
capacity and responsibility to play a fundamental
role --- in ensuring global security and economic
stability and, at the same time, promoting new
growth engines in science, technology and
digital transformation.
____________________________________________
China is a benchmark -- in
applied robotics ------- and
brain-computer interface
October 31st, 12:09am
(Prensa Latina)
China today consolidates itself as a reference in research into
brain-computer interfaces and applied robotics, as well as a
relevant actor in the development of humanoid robots,
with recent advances in Shandong province.
Prensa Latina visited the Shandong Youbaote Intelligent Robot
company to learn about the characteristics of the Xingzhe
Taishan humanoid robot, who won first place in the 100
meters and bronze medal in the 4×100 at the 2025
World Humanoid Robot Games.
Zhou Tong, deputy general manager of the company, pointed
out that the development of this type of robot still faces a
long road - and that advances occur gradually.
The young executive told Prensa Latina, that the company
continually improves the central mechanical components
and updates algorithms to strengthen the balance and
stability of the robots.
Zhou stressed that Youbaote has already started marketing its
products, including quadruped robots applicable in security,
electrical inspection, emergency rescue ....and logistics
transportation, while humanoids are used in research,
teaching, tourist guides and cultural tourism.
He expressed his hope - that in the future humanoid robots will
enter homes, helping with household chores, elderly care and
school attendance, although they still require a process of
growth and improvement.
Zhou highlighted that production, with more than one
hundred key components, drives the development
of the entire industrial chain.
Prensa Latina - also visited Shandong Zhongke Advanced
Technology Co. ----- to learn about its NeuroSci wireless
electroencephalography (EEG) system - which allows
the acquisition of up to 64 channels of brain signals
and applications.... in neuroscientific research,
neurological diseases and brain-computer
interfaces (BCI).
Li Weimin, the institution's top representative, said the company
benefited from the collaboration with the Chinese Academy of
Sciences and the favorable business and talent environment
in Jinan.
The manager specified that the NeuroSci system enables BCI
experiences, including drone control and writing through
thinking, thereby demonstrating the reliability of signal
acquisition, algorithm processing - and interaction
with external devices.
Li stressed: the company develops non-implantable
interfaces ----- considered safer, and cheaper.
Likewise, he advanced plans for implantable interfaces that
allow stronger and more stable brain signals, with the
potential for practical applications in the daily lives
of patients.
The director noted that the institution has made advances
in advanced manufacturing, renewable energy and
rehabilitation, integrating neuroengineering,
EEG and robotics.
Youbaote and Zhongke's projects --- reflect China's technological
capabilities in humanoid robotics and brain-computer interfaces,
and, at the same time, they consolidate the country as a global
benchmark in innovation applied to industry, health, and
scientific research.
_______________________________________________
Partial closure of the US
government on the 30th
October 30th, 10:37am
(Prensa Latina)
Republican and Democratic legislators in the US Senate
could reach an agreement next week to end the partial
shutdown of the federal government, which entered its
thirtieth day today.
The closure or shutdown, at the rate it is going, could cost
the United States economy up to 14 billion dollars,
according to official information.
According to estimates, such a loss would reduce the
Gross Domestic Product (GDP), for the fourth quarter
by a maximum of 2.0 percent due to the break in
public spending, revealed the Congressional
Budget Office (CBO).
The economy will be affected by the delay in federal spending
on employee compensation, goods and services, and food
stamps for low-income Americans, the CBO revealed.
“Although most of the real GDP decline will recover over time,
the CBO estimates that between $7 billion and $14 billion
will not recover”, the agency's director, Phillip
Swagel, warned.
In a letter sent yesterday to House Budget Committee Chairman
Jodey Arrington (Republican of Texas), Swagel wrote that “the
effects of the shutdown on the economy are uncertain. These
effects depend on the decisions made by the administration
throughout the closure”.
About 750,000 federal workers were placed on unpaid leave
after government funds ran out on October 1, when fiscal
year 2026 began.
At this time there is a rush to end the legislative impasse due
to the expiration of subsidies from the Affordable Care Act
(known as Obamacare) ------ that will skyrocket health
insurance premiums.
Also......... due to the imminent interruption of funding for the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the
salaries of military workers... as the stagnation continues.
The previous shutdown occurred between December 2018
and January 2019, lasted 35 days and is considered the
longest in United States history so far. The president
then .....was Donald Trump.
_________________________________________________
Cuba thanks Venezuela for
humanitarian aid after
Melissa passed
October 30th, 4:12pm
(Prensa Latina)
Cuba today thanked Venezuela for sending 26 tons
of humanitarian aid intended to support recovery
efforts and assist victims of Hurricane Melissa.
In a message spread on social networks, Cuban Foreign
Minister Bruno Rodríguez expressed his recognition to
the Bolivarian government for the solidarity shown in
times of adversity, citing National Hero Jose Marti
''Doing is the best way to say.''
The assistance, announced by the Venezuelan Minister
of Foreign Affairs, Yván Gil, includes medical supplies,
food products and materials for the reconstruction
of affected infrastructure in the east.
The shipment joins national and international efforts,
aimed at --- restoring basic services, guaranteein
the health of the population and supporting the
rehabilitation of production centres in the
territories hardest hit by the cyclone.
Melissa made Cuban landfall in a point in the southeast of
its geography where she caused severe flooding, as well
as extensive material damage to homes and crops in
the eastern provinces.
To date, no fatalities caused by the
hurricane ---- have been reported.
______________________________________
Venezuelan ambassador to Bolivia
-- highlights failure of US blockade
----------- Cuba is not alone
by Jorge Petinaud Martínez, the
Chief correspondent in Bolivia
October 30th, 1:28pm
(Prensa Latina)
The Venezuelan ambassador to Bolivia, César Trómpiz, today,
considered the vote condemning the economic, commercial
and financial blockade of the United States against Cuba
---------- a triumph of truth over lies.
The diplomat stated in statements to Prensa Latina that the
result of the vote (165 in favour, 12 abstentions and 7
against) is confirmation that the blockade is a
criminal, infamous and unjust action.
“Cuba continues to demonstrate the immorality of the economic,
commercial and financial reprisals maintained for more than six
decades against all those people by the US Government”, said
the ambassador.
He reiterated that the most recent vote in the United Nations
General Assembly on the need to eliminate the economic
commercial and financial blockade of the US against
Cuba demonstrates the immorality of Washington's
reprisals, and aggressions and the siege of a
people that resists ---- and triumphs
against imperialism.
“From Venezuela'' - the diplomat emphasized - ''we support and
continue to support Cuba's call to eliminate the criminal
blockade that causes death and pain, but it will never
cause the defeat of the humanist and revolutionary
cause of Cubans and Latin Americans”.
When referring to the deployment of a powerful Pentagon
naval squadron that includes thousands of troops,
nuclear propulsion means and more than 1,200
long-range cruise missiles, Trómpiz warned
that the ''justification''... that this is an
operation against drug trafficking
--- is just a pretext.
“The new Yankee policy --- is to expand its borders
to the Caribbean with weapons, with an attempt
to intimidate..... the people in struggle”,
he clarified.
He indicated that “they have not been able to defeat Cuba,
they have not been able to defeat Nicaragua and they
have not been able to defeat Venezuela, and not
even with the largest and most armed navy
will they be able to defeat the
Bolivarian people”.
He expressed that Venezuelans tell everyone - that it is
necessary to raise awareness and solidarity with the
Bolivarian Revolution, that confronts on the front
line the expansionist and warlike intentions
of the North American empire.
“What Washington wants is the oil of the Venezuelan people -
Trómpiz warned -, and today's containment, heroic and on
the front line, is carried out by President Nicolás Maduro
Moros with the civic-military union of Venezuelans,
and with the loving solidarity of the people, so
we are sure ---- that we will win”.
He warned that his people face the onslaught of US
imperialism, the most concentrated expression of
contemporary fascism --- in the world.
“The Yankee supremacist and fascist government is what
we face from Latin America and the Caribbean and the
world, and the union that our president Nicolás
Maduro is calling for, is the right thing to do
for this moment of transition towards
multipolarity on the planet”,
he insisted.
Regarding this reality -- the diplomat reiterated
confidence in the victory of the popular forces.
“Just as imperialism fell at the beginning of the 20th century,
at the beginning of the 21st century the defeat fell to the
North American empire, and to the Cuban people and
those of Latin America and the Caribbean, we tell
them that we must resist together this time of
supremacism and Yankee fascism”,
concluded the ambassador.
____________________________________
Hurricane Melissa is
heading to Bermuda
October 30th, 6:46am
(Prensa Latina)
The centre of Hurricane Melissa is expected to pass north-
west Bermuda tonight, a bulletin from the United States
National Hurricane Centre warned.
The weather phenomenon is moving north-northeast at
about 33 kilometres per hour (km/h), and is expected
to continue accelerating northeastward over the
next two days, as indicated by the forecast.
Melissa's maximum sustained winds, have risen
to 165 km/h with higher gusts, the report added.
A slight strengthening is possible today before
the weakening of the system is likely to begin
on Friday.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 95
kilometers (km) from the centre and tropical
storm-force winds reach outward.... up to
315 km, while the estimated minimum
central pressure is 968 millibars.
Tropical storm conditions will begin in Bermuda
late today, with hurricane conditions expected
there tonight.
Meanwhile, water levels should continue to
decline into the morning for the south-
eastern Bahamas.
Coastal storm surge flooding is possible
.....in onshore wind areas - for Bermuda.
The storm surges generated by Melissa will continue
to affect portions of Hispaniola, Cuba, the Bahamas,
and the Turks and Caicos Islands over the next
two days, and they will spread to Bermuda
late today, causing life-threatening surf
conditions and ocean currents.
____________________________________
Xi to Trump: China has the capacity
------ to face risks and challenges
October 30th, 4:07am
(Prensa Latina)
China has never tried to challenge or replace anyone, the
country's success is to concentrate on managing its
own affairs, president Xi Jinping today stressed
to his US counterpart, Donald Trump.
«The Chinese economy --- is like an ocean, with
considerable scale, resilience and potential.
We have the confidence and capacity to
face various risks and challenges»,
he added.
During their meeting in Busan, South Korea, Xi explained
to Trump the economic achievements recorded in the
country this year - despite external and internal
challenges, among them a growth of 5.2%
in the first nine months ---- and a 4%
increase in foreign trade.
«For more than 70 years ----- we have adhered to
a coherent plan, with successive generations
building on the efforts of previous ones»,
he noted.
According to the president, China will further deepen
reform in all areas and expand openness, striving to
promote the comprehensive development of people
and common prosperity which will open greater
opportunities for cooperation.... with the US.
«Economic and commercial ties must continue to be the
counterweight and driving force of bilateral relations,
and not obstacles, or points of conflict. Both sides
should focus on the big picture -- prioritizing the
long-term benefits of cooperation rather than
getting caught ------- in a vicious cycle of
retaliation», he stressed.
Xi Jinping urged the negotiating teams to continue
discussions under the principles of equality,
mutual respect and reciprocity, while
calling on them - to progressively
reduce the list of issues while
expanding the scope
of cooperation.
«The prospects for cooperation are promising in areas
such as the fight against illegal immigration and
telecommunications fraud, the fight against
money laundering, artificial intelligence
and the response to infectious
diseases», he added.
He also advocated strengthening communication and
dialogue at all levels, plus increasing coordination
in regional and international forums.
According to the Chinese press, Trump declared it
an honour ---- to meet with President Xi Jinping.
«China is a great nation ---- and President Xi is a respected
and magnificent leader, as well as a good friend of mine
-- for many years. We get along very well. Relations
between the United States and China, have
always been good and will be even
better ------ in the future», the
Republican asserted.
After this meeting, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce
confirmed an agreement reached with the US side
that contemplates.... the elimination and/or/or
suspension of tariffs and other retaliatory
measures derived from the trade war
between the two countries.
_______________________________
Azerbaijan liquidates BBC
representative office
October 29th, 9:16pm
(RT.ru)
The Azerbaijani government has decided to close the
BBC's office in the country --- and has revoked the
accreditation of its employees.
APA writes about this.
The publication notes, that there is no international treaty
that provides for the activities of a representative office
in Azerbaijan.
"In this regard, the relevant authorities have liquidated
this representative office," the article states.
_____________________________________
Exit polls ---- "Democrats 66"
party wins Dutch elections
by Ivan Kartashov
October 29th, 8:51pm
(Rossiyskaya Gazeta)
To share
On Wednesday, the Netherlands held early parliamentary
elections. According to the first exit poll results, the
Social Liberal party "Democrats 66", is winning.
The "Democrats 66" party won 27 seats in the lower house of
the Dutch parliament. The far-right Freedom Party (PVV) of
Geert Wilders came in second place with 25 seats. This
was reported by the newspaper De Telegraaf.
The ruling People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) is in
third place with 23 seats, while the left-wing Green Left bloc, is
in third place. The Labour Party (GroenLinks-PvdA) is the
fourth, with 20 mandates.
As a reminder, in the previous parliamentary elections in
2023, the Freedom Party (PVV) ---- led by Geert Wilders
emerged victorious, securing 37 seats in parliament.
But.... they failed to fulfill their campaign pledges.
Early parliamentary elections were called in the Netherlands
after the Freedom Party left the ruling coalition in June and
the cabinet ---- led by the independent politician, Dick
Schoof... resigned.
The PVV's decision... was based on disagreements with its
coalition partners, particularly regarding migration policy.
The PVV demanded: that the borders be closed to asylum
seekers but the right-liberals & right-centrists disagreed.
____________________________________________________________
Colombia and Saudi Arabia sign
agreement on energy matters
October 29th, 1:24pm
(Prensa Latina)
The governments of Colombia and Saudi Arabia signed an
agreement - that establishes a five-year cooperation to
develop joint projects in hydrogen, clean energy,
energy efficiency, as well as carbon capture
and storage, the Presidency reported
here today.
The Memorandum of Understanding, which may be renewed,
was signed in Riyadh between the Colombian Ministry of
Mines and Energy, led by Edwin Palma, and the Saudi
counterpart entity headed by Abdulaziz Bin Salman
Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
According to the source, the alliance also promotes technology
transfer and knowledge exchange, as well as the creation of a
binational team that will define roadmaps and specific
collaboration programs in all segments of the
energy chain.
With the agreement, Palma declared, Colombia positions itself
as a strategic partner in the global discussion on energy.
“We want to learn, share - and build new energy solutions that
are sustainable and sovereign. This is one more step towards
a just transition that puts people and the planet at the
centre”, he commented.
He considered that Saudi Arabia, despite its wealth in fossil
energy, is accelerating its energy transition and hopes to
change its energy matrix by 50 percent in five years.
The signing of the Memorandum was carried out as part
of President Gustavo Petro's visit to Riyadh, where he
participates in an agenda of the Future Investment
Initiative (FII9).
At the global forum that brings together the world's most
influential leaders to drive sustainable growth, promote
innovation and channel investments that contribute to
the well-being of humanity, more than 600 speakers
and 15 heads of state participate, the
Presidency detailed.
The minister's delegation is also made up of the ministers
of Foreign Affairs, Commerce, Industry and Tourism,
and Culture.
______________________________________
Ecuadorian unions will mobilize
---- for No in Noboa referendum
October 29th, 1:23pm
(Prensa Latina)
Trade union centres in Ecuador announced today a national day
of protest on November 12 to promote the negative vote in the
popular consultation and referendum promoted by president
Daniel Noboa.
At a press conference this Wednesday, representatives of
organizations -- such as the National Union of Educators
(UNE) and the Unitary Workers' Front (FUT) maintained
that the Executive is trying to approve “regressive”
reforms that would affect labour and social rights.
They also denounced the lack of financing for
key sectors such as education, health and
social security.
According to the organizers, the mobilization seeks to demand
that public resources be prioritized for social areas and not
for military spending or repression.
The president of the FUT, Edwin Bedoya, assured.... that the day
“it is not an electoral campaign, it is in defense of sovereignty”,
and he accused the Government of having “bought media
and journalists” -------- to impose its narrative.
Bedoya also pointed out that “employment has not grown,
crime has grown”, and called for union and citizen unity
“to defend the dignity of the people”.
He also questioned the lack of care for retirees and patients
of the Ecuadorian Social Security Institute (IESS), while
“millions are spent on repression”, and he criticized
what he considers a welfare model that replaces
public investment.
The leader denounced what he considers to be political
persecution against social leaders after the national
strike, indicating that several leaders “have been
hacked, threatened and investigated ------ with
absurd fiscal processes”.
He also rejected the Executive's proposals, on the presence of
foreign military bases and private security companies, as well
as attempts to limit free education --- measures he described
as “a transfer of sovereignty”.
For his part, Andrés Quishpe, president of the UNE, accused the
head of the National Electoral Council (CNE), Diana Atamaint,
of assuming “a political position” ---- and of trying to prevent
the participation of his organization and the Confederation
of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (Conaie) in the
campaign, prior to the popular consultation.
Both the FUT and the UNE reiterated their call to “reject
any attempt to violate labour and social rights” within
the framework of the popular consultation, which is
scheduled for November 16.
In less than three weeks -- Ecuadorians are called to the polls
to answer four questions at the initiative of President Noboa,
among them ---- the possibility of convening a Constituent
Assembly to draft a new Constitution.
Furthermore, in the consultative process, citizens must respond
if they wish to allow the installation of foreign military bases,
reduce the number of legislators and eliminate public
financing for political organizations.
In a recent interview, Noboa expressed ''confidence''
that citizens will support his initiatives at the polls.
Officially, the electoral campaign will run from next
Saturday, November the 1st, to Thursday, the 13th.
_______________________________________
Popular and military parades
in Türkiye for Republic Day
October 29th, 12:33pm
(Prensa Latina)
Türkiye was the scene today of parades and popular celebrations
on the occasion of the 102nd anniversary of the founding of the
Republic, on a day marked by the participation of civil and
military authorities .....and thousands of citizens.
The commemorative events ----------- were held in different parts of
Istanbul, highlighting the main ceremony on Vatan Street, in the
European part of the city, attended by Governor Davut Gül,
vice Mayor Nuri Aslan and representatives of political
and military institutions.
During the event, parades of army and security force units
were held, as well as artistic and folkloric presentations,
starring students and civil organizations.
Domestically manufactured military vehicles and systems,
developed by Türkiye's defense industry, were also
on display.
President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan led the official 102nd
anniversary ceremonies in Ankara, which began with
a visit to the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk,
founder of the Republic.
The president expressed his congratulations to the citizens
of Türkiye and Turkish communities abroad, reaffirming
the government's commitment - to continue working
“to lift the Republic to the level of contemporary
civilizations, as you, the people, dreamed”.
ErdoÄŸan highlighted... the continuity of investment and
development programs, as well as the strengthening
of the country's international position.
Every October 29, Türkiye celebrates Republic Day,
commemorating the proclamation of its founding
by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in 1923, a date
considered one of the most important
milestones in the modern history of
the country.
_____________________________________
Despite pressure, the world with
Cuba ------- against the blockade
October 29th, 11:45am
(Prensa Latina)
Cuba achieved a new victory today in the UN General Assembly
after obtaining 165 votes in favour of the resolution calling for
the end of the US' state blockade of the island.
A vote that, in the midst of the brutal pressure campaign by the
US prior to this exercise, has been carried out every year since
1992, the international community once again spoke out
against an economic, commercial and financial siege
that has lasted more than six decades and that it
describes as the longest in history --- against
any country.
On this occasion there were
seven votes against and
12 abstentions.
___________________________________
China confirms - Xi, Trump
will meet in South Korea
on Thursday
October 29th, 10:51am
(al Manar)
Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to meet with US President
Donald Trump on Thursday in South Korea, to seek “positive
outcomes,” Beijing confirmed on Wednesday.
The two heads of state will “have an in-depth communication on
strategic and long-term issues concerning China-US relations,
as well as major issues of mutual concern,” Chinese Foreign
Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said.
“China stands ready to work with the US,” Guo told a news
conference in Beijing, adding that the country seeks
“positive outcomes of this meeting” and hopes to
inject “new momentum into the development
of China-US relations.”
Specific information regarding the upcoming meeting
will be released in due course, he added.
Last week, the White House announced the two leaders
were set to meet on October 30 in South Korea on the
sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation Summit.
Source: Agencies (edited by
Al-Manar English Website)
_____________________________________________
Trump for removing China from
Argentina ---- the Chinese
expand investments
October 29th, 12:53am
(Prensa Latina)
Given President Donald Trump's insistence that the current
Argentine government remove China from the country, the
Chinese today continue with the usual Asian impassivity
by promoting their cooperation and investment for the
benefit of local companies.
The Zoomlion company, producer of equipment for the
construction of public works, began to make a big
splash on Argentine soil with the help of Grupo
Viales, 40-year-old company dedicated to the
sale and rental of construction equipment
and one of the central players ---- in the
national road machinery market.
Zoomlion, the main Chinese company in the world, will be
the supplier and advisor of the Argentine group that
organized a recent demonstration, to which it
attracted more than 60 clients, distributors
and professionals in the road sector.
The Noticias Argentinas (NA) agency, that covered the exclusive
event detailed that attendees were able to learn up close about
Zoomlion's line of excavators and bulldozers, in addition to
testing the equipment ....and sharing experiences with
brand specialists.
Thanks to Grupo Viales, the Chinese brand is already among the
three main players in Argentina in the excavator segment,
competing with North American and European firms
with a long history in the local market ------ with a
high quality product and innovative technology.
“This event was an example of the growth and confidence that
Zoomlion generates in Argentina. More and more customers
choose the brand for its performance and its price-quality
ratio”, said Ariel Straccia, managing partner of Grupo
Viales, quoted by NA.
Grupo Viales is positioned today as one of the leaders
in sales of excavators and bulldozers in Argentina ---
providing comprehensive solutions and a support
network that supports each operation.
_____________________________________
Chinese Foreign Ministry highlights
strategic role of summit between
Xi and Trump
October 29th, 5:41am
(Prensa Latina)
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun,
expressed that the meeting between Presidents
Xi Jinping and Donald Trump in South Korea
will have a strategic role in guiding
bilateral relations.
Beijing confirmed for tomorrow in Busan the meeting that
the White House had already announced and questioned,
within the framework of the meeting of leaders of the
Asia-Pacific Cooperation Forum (Apec).
Guo pointed out that the leaders will address strategic,
long-term issues of common interest..... in depth.
He stressed that China is willing to work with the US
to achieve positive results that boost the stability
and development of the bilateral relationship.
Asked about Trump's proposal to reduce tariffs in exchange
for Chinese measures against fentanyl --- Guo reiterated
Beijing's firm and consistent stance on drug control.
He stated that China is one of the countries with the
greatest rigour in the regulation of psychoactive
substances and with the largest number of
controlled compounds in the world.
The spokesperson expressed empathy for the fentanyl crisis
affecting the US people and recalled that China has already
provided cooperation ...with positive results.
He indicated that Beijing maintains an open attitude to
continue collaborating, as long as Washington adopts
concrete actions that facilitate such cooperation.
China and the US have maintained intense diplomatic
and trade contacts in recent weeks, in a context of
efforts to stabilize their relationship after periods
of trade and technological tensions.
____________________________________________
At least 76 companies interested
in investing in .....Guatemala
October 29th, 12:23am
(Prensa Latina)
At least 76 companies are today interested in investing in
Guatemala, at different stages, explained the Minister
of the Economy, Gabriela García.
There are some who have just met us, others who perhaps
have already come on a mission of this type, and there
are those about to say if they are interested, the
minister stressed --- in an interview with the
official Diario de CentroAmérica.
We were going to have a couple of announcements this year,
but due to the tariffs (imposed on the nation on April 10 by
the US) they stopped us, the official noted.
Regarding the possibility that this panorama will allow new trade
agreements in April, García stated that they first closed the
circle with Peru, because that pact was there, and
something... was missing.
With South Korea, accession was also signed and approved in
Congress, she recalled, while mentioning that all the Central
American countries specified it .....and Guatemala, for
some reason, had not.
Now, she noted, US tariff policy ----- is putting pressure on in
this regard. We have 15 trade agreements and preferential
access to more than 40 markets underway, the
minister expanded.
With current conditions, it is being seen that the Central
American niche is the one that buys from us the most,
she described. Now ---- the possibility is opening up
again, to the Caribbean, she said.
All this new change in commercial chains, once again, puts
the possibility of exporting to other places on the horizon
of companies, said the minister.
Regarding the main macroeconomic advances recorded this
year, she said the good solid decisions of the Executive,
through its Ministry of Public Finance, allowed for a
rating of BB+, from Fitch Ratings.
She said that the recent improvement provides more guarantees
and legal certainty in relation to the private rights of a company.
When a company comes and settles here, because it has
trusted the process, it generates better and more jobs,
with new technologies, and that, is where it reaches
the citizen... because job opportunities open up,
García reflected.
Second, she asserted --- it establishes competition for
our companies, because we bring a new technology,
or a new way of doing things.
________________________________________
The Ministry of Mines -------- will
buy gold produced in Colombia
October 29th, 12:02am
(Prensa Latina)
The Ministry of Mines and Energy of Colombia announced
the purchase, starting next month, of the gold that is
currently produced in different regions of the
country, by guidance of the president,
Gustavo Petro.
According to the head of the organization, Edwin Palma,
in response to the president's instructions, the direct
acquisition of the mineral will be implemented in
the regions where it is obtained.
The official explained that 80 percent of the 70 tons sold
each year for a value greater than four billion dollars
comes from informal or illegal exploitations, which
leaves losses in royalties of approximately five
trillion pesos, close to 1.3 billion dollars, at
the current exchange rate.
In his message posted on social networks, Palma regretted
that Congress did not help move forward with the bill for
the creation of a state mining company, whose
objective was to combat illegality and
increase income for the nation.
He pointed out, however, that, in coordination with state entities,
a process will be carried out so that gold companies in the
process of asset forfeiture put themselves at the service
of cooperatives and associations of small miners, which
will contribute to conferring a high social value on
assets that were once used for illicit operations.
The measure, which today already favours 7,400 miners
organized in cooperatives, should be extended.... to
about 350,000 informal and subsistence miners,
he stated.
The president also mentioned the need to massively
regularize small miners -- and remove mafias from
the sector.
The president also described it as a great financial
disaster ---- that the Bank of the Republic has sold
Colombian gold and is not buying it in the regions.
_________________________________________
Government of Brazil joins
global condemnation -------
against blockade of Cuba
October 28th, 1:26pm
(Prensa Latina)
The Government of Brazil reiterated today at the United Nations
its rejection of the economic, commercial & financial blockade
imposed by the United States on Cuba, describing it as unfair,
inhumane and contrary to the principles of international law.
In its intervention, Brazil reaffirmed its historical position against
unilateral sanctions & coercive measures that - as it denounced
— «affect the stability of international relations, distort global
trade — and hinder sustainable development».
The unilateral measure -- «has caused incalculable suffering to the
Cuban people, discouraged foreign investment and limited access
to essential goods such as medicines and vital technologies», the
Brazilian Government stressed, and called for its immediate lifting.
Such a statement also criticized Cuba being permanently on the
US list of alleged State sponsors of terrorism, a decision that
Brazil described as «unfair and unjustified» ----- for having
aggravated trade restrictions and humanitarian
difficulties on the island.
The administration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva pointed
out that these provisions directly affect the human rights of the
Cuban people, by restricting remittances and access to basic
supplies, especially medicines. «These are humanly
unacceptable and politically unsustainable
consequences», he warned.
Brazil recalled that the rejection of the siege «is practically
universal today», as demonstrated by the support of 187
countries - for the UN resolution that demands its end,
and he cited the summits of the Community of Latin
American and Caribbean States, in which Latin
America and the Caribbean have reiterated
the same position.
The South American giant maintains its commitment to
the principles of solidarity, cooperation and respect
for sovereignty, the Government stressed.
He specified that «ending the blockade will be essential
for Cuba to overcome its challenges and guarantee the
well-being of its people».
With this declaration, Brazil once again joined the vast majority
of the international community that condemns a policy
considered as anachronistic, and contrary to the
spirit of the United Nations.
This Tuesday, the United States ''blockade'' against Cuba
returned to global scrutiny in the UN General Assembly
with the debate on the draft resolution - that calls for
lifting the longest economic siege in world history.
____________________________________________________
Iran’s strategic plan ----
to establish a gas bloc
October 28th, 11:41am
(PressTV)
Iran is pushing for a major shift in the global gas market,
aiming to give producers more power, in a world where
energy is increasingly political.
At the 27th ministerial meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries
Forum (GECF), Iran’s Petroleum Minister Mohsen Paknejad
said that Tehran’s proposal to turn the forum into the
“Organization of Gas Exporting Countries” (OGEC)
has been well received.
The idea, first raised at the 2024 Doha meeting, and followed
up in Tehran in 2025, could create a gas bloc with influence
similar to OPEC, which has long shaped global oil markets.
The move comes at a time of big changes in the energy world.
Since the war in Ukraine and the resulting Western sanctions,
natural gas has moved from being viewed as a short-term
stopgap to a crucial energy source for maintaining
security, particularly in Europe and Asia.
Iran and Russia, who together hold more than 40% of the world’s
gas reserves, see this as a chance to push for a stronger role
in global markets. They believe that staying passive would
leave producers vulnerable to pressure from major
consumers and market swings.
Iran’s plan is both economic and political. The country argues
that gas should no longer just support Western climate
policies; rather, it should be at the centre of the
energy transition.
If gas is crucial for European and Asian energy security ----
producers should have a say in how the market operates.
By creating a legally binding organization, Iran wants
gas to move from being a reactive commodity
influenced by geopolitics ---- to one with
independent regulatory power.
Today, the GECF mainly functions..... as a discussion forum. Its
recommendations are non-binding and decisions are made by
consensus, so members can ignore them. That has limited its
ability to respond effectively in times of crisis, such as
sudden supply shortages or strategic market shifts.
OGEC, on the other hand, would require members to follow
decisions approved by a qualified majority, giving the
group real decision-making power.
Part of the plan also involves creating new economic cooperation
models - to protect against sanctions. At the Tehran summit, Iran
proposed joint investment working groups for major gas projects.
The idea is simple: if Iran, Russia, and China all invest in a project
like the third phase of South Pars, every dollar is considered joint
ownership. This makes sanctions against one country riskier, as
they could disrupt the whole multinational project.
Such collaboration spreads risk, accelerates the development
of pipelines and LNG projects, and encourages investment in
downstream industries, like refining and petrochemicals. It
also reduces reliance on Western banks and helps secure
technology through regional development banks.
Iran’s vision goes beyond economics. By coordinating with Russia,
Qatar, China, and India, Tehran hopes to create a Eurasian gas
bloc capable of influencing supply, stabilizing prices, and
negotiating from a position of strength. Gas could shift
from being a commodity that reacts to market
pressures to a tool that shapes global
energy policy.
Another key aspect of the plan is positioning gas, as a central part
of the green energy transition. Minister Paknejad has emphasized
that natural gas is the cleanest fossil fuel and a pillar of
sustainable development.
By framing gas as a bridge fuel that can balance renewable
energy’s ups and downs, Iran challenges Western calls for
rapid fossil fuel phase-outs. The strategy is about
securing gas as a reliable energy source while
supporting the transition to cleaner power.
The proposed OGEC model ----- mirrors the path OPEC took in the
1960s. Back then -- OPEC moved from a loose discussion group
to a legally empowered body that could coordinate production
and influence prices, taking away control from multinational
oil companies.
Iran hopes OGEC can do the same for gas ----- protect producers’
interests, stabilize markets, and strengthen long-term planning.
If implemented, OGEC could have a big impact on global energy
markets. Coordinated policies and investment .....could reduce
uncertainty for large-scale projects, accelerate infrastructure
development, and give producers a stronger voice in
international energy decisions.
For consumers, it might mean a more predictable supply, but also
a new reality where producers can exert political leverage over
global energy flows.
Geopolitically, the move reflects Iran’s understanding that energy is
inseparable from national security. By tying the member countries’
interests together through joint projects and shared investments,
the bloc could make gas a strategic lever in global politics.
Iran’s approach relies on its large reserves, strategic location,
and experience under sanctions to create a governance
model focused on collective strength rather than
individual vulnerability.
At its heart, Iran’s proposal is about more than just gas;
it’s about redefining power in global energy markets.
By institutionalizing cooperation, creating joint investment
frameworks, and keeping gas central to the energy
transition, Tehran aims to shift influence back -
to the producers.
OGEC could become a major actor in global energy, shaping
markets, guiding investment, and turning gas into a tool of
strategic influence.
If Iran’s plan succeeds, the 2026 summit could mark the start
of a new era for global energy, changing the economics and
geopolitics of gas .....for decades to come.
_____________________________________
US, Japan: Forge Critical Minerals Pact
to Counter China, Launch ‘Golden Age’
of Alliance
October 28th, 11:26am
(al Manar)
In a move to counter China’s dominance in strategic resources,
US President Donald Trump and Japan’s new Prime Minister
Sanae Takaichi signed a landmark agreement to secure
the supply chain for rare earths, signaling a renewed
push for economic and security cooperation.
The deal, inked during Trump’s second stop on his Asia tour,
establishes a framework for the two allies to jointly work
on mining, processing, and investing in rare earths and
other critical minerals. This comes directly in
response to China’s recent decision to
tighten export controls on these
materials, which are vital for
everything from electric
vehicles to advanced
weaponry.
A White House statement outlined the pact’s goal to “assist
both countries in achieving resilience and security of
critical minerals and rare earths supply chains,”
using coordinated policies to develop
diversified and fair markets.
The meeting, which began with a casual moment..... watching
Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani, was marked by warm
personal rapport and strong strategic alignment.
Prime Minister Takaichi opened the formal talks by expressing
her ambition to “realize a new golden age of the Japan-US
alliance, where both Japan and the United States will
become stronger and also more prosperous.”
In a significant gesture, the White House revealed that Takaichi
intends to nominate President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize,
citing his role in securing ceasefires in Gaza and between
Thailand and Cambodia.
The leaders also paid tribute to Japan’s late Prime Minister Shinzo
Abe, whom Trump called a “great friend,” while noting Abe had
spoken highly of Takaichi .......before her rise to power.
Behind closed doors, discussions focused heavily on trade and
regional security. The new rare earths pact was reaffirmed in
a joint statement as a crucial step toward “strengthening
economic security, promoting economic growth, and
contributing to global prosperity.”
Trump ------ also welcomed Japan’s decision to
purchase more U.S.-made military equipment.
Congratulating Takaichi on becoming Japan’s first female
prime minister, Trump predicted she would become “one
of the country’s greatest prime ministers.”
“Anything I can do to help Japan, we will be there,” Trump
said. “You’re going to do a fantastic job, and we’re going
to have a fantastic relationship.”
Source: Agencies (edited and
translated by Al-Manar
English Website)
_____________________________________
China calls on the US: to stop
undermining peace in
the Caribbean
October 28th, 12:29am
(Prensa Latina)
China today urged the United States to listen to the voices of
Caribbean countries and cease actions that affect peace
and stability in the region.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun called on Washington
to return to normal law enforcement and judicial cooperation
through bilateral and multilateral legal frameworks.
China recently expressed its opposition to any act that threatens
the sovereignty and security of countries, regarding the
deployment of US ships in the Caribbean Sea
near Venezuela.
In response to a question from Prensa Latina, Foreign Ministry
spokesperson Mao Ning also rejected «the use or threat of
use of force in international relations».
«We oppose external forces interfering in Venezuela's internal
affairs under any pretext. We hope that the United States
does more for the good of Latin America and the
Caribbean», the spokesperson stressed.
The signs and actions of US President Donald Trump, with the
deployment of warships near the Venezuelan coast, the
sinking of boats accused of drug trafficking, and the
sending of an aircraft carrier - increase tensions in
the region due to a possible military intervention
in the South American country.
_______________________________________________
The official exchange rate for the dollar
has decreased to less than 79 rubles
October 27th, 3:53pm
(Vesti.ru)
According to the Central Bank, the official exchange rate
for the dollar was set at below 79 rubles on Tuesday,
October 28th, Moscow time.
The US dollar has plummeted against the ruble,
falling by 1.99 rubles to 78.98 rubles per dollar.
The euro has fallen in price by 2.06 rubles. The official
exchange rate for the European currency on Tuesday
is 92.02 rubles.
Central Bank head Elvira Nabiullina said a few days ago that
the Bank of Russia does not see the risk of an even greater
strengthening of the ruble against the backdrop of US
sanctions. In September... Nabiullina predicted that
the ruble exchange rate in the Russian economy
may be quite strong.
______________________________________
Brics Capitals Parliamentary Movement
creates roadmap in Moscow
October 27th, 2:57pm
(Prensa Latina)
The members of the Brics Parliamentary Capital Movement
signed a joint declaration here today as a roadmap to
develop cooperation between the cities of the
States that are members of the block.
President of the Moscow City Duma, Alexey Shaposhnikov,
supported by the Russian Foreign Ministry, thought about
the initiative to create this group in order to establish
direct links between megacities that face
similar challenges.
Likewise, they aspire to complement traditional diplomacy
with new communication channels and enhance the
effectiveness of international cooperation.
«We are at the origin of a completely new interaction format,
and we still have many tasks and enormous responsibility
ahead of us”, the Moscow legislature ruled at the signing
ceremony held at the Moscow Parliamentary Centre.
In this sense, Shaposhnikov highlighted that collaboration
between the representative bodies of the key cities of
the Brics is becoming an important tool to enhance
ties between nations, laying a solid foundation
for a new world order based on equality,
trust and mutual respect.
Our association is becoming truly global, connecting the
capitals of four continents -- and the millions of people
who live in them, insisted the highest representative
of the Moscow parliamentary body.
For its part, russian Vice Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov
stated that this new action - adds to the rich history and
diverse architecture of the interaction between regions
and municipalities of the Brics countries.
“These formats address very specific and practical issues
directly related to the functioning of cities and the well-
being of their residents, such as improving the urban
environment, including social and environmental
aspects, infrastructure accessibility, and
transport development.”
“The digitalization of municipal services, the implementation of
innovative developments and support for small and medium-
sized businesses”, listed the deputy foreign minister of the
Eurasian giant.
Riabkov emphasized ----- that the Russian Foreign Ministry is fully
convinced that the Brics Parliamentary Movement will perfectly
complement the dynamic dialogue between legislators, and it
will help strengthen the mutual understanding and friendship
inherent within the partnership.
In that sense, he noted that the initiative of the joint declaration
of the Brics Parliamentary Capital Movement ----- will defend the
principles of sovereign equality, consideration of each person's
interests, and cooperation ---- in order to forge a better future.
Leaders of the governments of Minsk (Belarus), Brasilia (Brazil),
Havana (Cuba), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Tehran (Iran), Tshwane
(South Africa) Kampala (Uganda) and Moscow (Russia)....
participated in the signing ceremony,
________________________________________
Raids and arrests of union leaders
are reported in Panama
October 27th, 2:36pm
(Prensa Latina)
The Panamanian popular movement today denounced the
arbitrary arrests of leaders of the construction union
and searches of the homes of relatives - of other
imprisoned people.
According to a statement to the nation also signed by the Front
for the Defense of Economic and Social Rights (Frenadeso),
by order of the prosecutor's office against the economic
order, this is an attack by the Government of José Raúl
Mulino, against one of the leading organizations in
recent protests against a pension rule --- and a
security memorandum signed with the US,
that is harmful to sovereignty.
It was also learned that in the last few hours Abdiel Betancourt,
from the board of directors of the Single National Union of
Workers in the Construction and Similar Industries
(Suntracs), was arrested.
They also pointed out that they arbitrarily took the daughter and
wife of Jaime Caballero, who remains in La Joya prison; and
they bothered Saúl Méndez's daughter, former secretary
general of Suntracs, now in exile, due to threats to his
physical integrity.
These operations, aimed at sowing terror and disciplining the
popular movement, are not isolated events: they are part of
a political offensive, judicial and media of the Executive
and the economic power groups against a workers'
organization that for decades has remained on
the side of the people, the text states.
In that sense, organizations such as the Federico Britton National
Communal Movement and Frenadeso revealed to the country and
the world that this attack is also a class and gender persecution
that exhibits a deeply misogynistic character, authoritarian and
cowardly ----- of the current administration.
We denounce the Panamanian government before international
human rights organizations for its direct responsibility in these
acts of political persecution, gender violence and repression,
and we demand the immediate cessation of the operations,
a comprehensive reparation to the victims and effective
guarantees of non-repetition, the document highlights.
____________________________________________
Lula convinced of a definitive
agreement --- between
Brazil and the US
October 27th, 8:36am
(Prensa Latina)
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated today that he is
convinced that there will soon be a definitive agreement
between the US and Brazil on tariffs, after a meeting
with his counterpart Donald Trump in Malaysia.
For Lula, the 50-minute conversation with Trump made it clear that
both governments are willing to close a trade understanding in a
matter of days and resolve the thorny issue of tariffs imposed
by Washington.
«If it depends on Trump and me, there will be an agreement»,
said the Brazilian, who highlighted that his economic and
diplomatic team is already involved in the talks.
Ministers Fernando Haddad, of Economy, and Mauro Vieira, of
Foreign Affairs, as well as Vice President Geraldo Alckmin
will participate directly in the negotiations.
The progressive leader indicated that the Republican committed
to reaching a quality pact with Brazil and that the dialogue
was frank and respectful.
«I tried hard to make him understand who I am, where I come
from and what I think. Only when we know each other can
we respect each other or not», he said.
Lula avoided talking about deadlines, but assured that the
outcome will be quick. «Trump made no promises, but he
assured me - that we will reach an agreement. I think it
will happen sooner than many believe»", he added.
In a defiant tone, the president indicated ---- that Brazil will act
independently in its foreign policy. «No one likes sycophants
or vassals. We have to be ourselves», he asserted. «That
candour helped create a positive chemistry between
President Trump and me. I hope it bears fruit for
our people», he noted.
The talk also served to address sensitive topics.
In this regard, Lula commented that he gave Trump a document
with the main points that Brazil intends to discuss, including
the application of the Magnitsky Law to Judge Alexandre
de Moraes, from the Supreme Court, and the growing
tension between Washington and Caracas.
Such a US rule allows sanctions for foreigners involved
in serious corruption or human rights violations.
He insisted that his government has no preferences for
any country, but defended maintaining good relations
with both the United States and China.
The Asian power «--- is our main trading partner and we
want an excellent relationship with both», he stressed.
Regarding Venezuela, Lula assured that Brazil is willing to
facilitate a dialogue - between the governments of Trump
and Nicolás Maduro. «Our war is not between countries,
but against poverty and hunger”, he said. «The wrong
thing - is to believe that everything is resolved by
shooting», he reasoned.
Finally, the founder of the ruling Workers' Party reiterated
Brazil's commitment to regional peace. «We want South
America....... to continue being a zone of peace»,
he pointed out.
_______________________________________________
Russia ready --- to export energy
technologies to Brics countries
October 27th, 4:20am
(Prensa Latina)
The Russian head of energy, Sergei Tsiviliov, said today
that his country's fuel and energy companies have
competitive technologies... ready to enter
international markets, mainly BRICS.
The minister, who offered statements to the press this
Monday - said that there are many examples of the
competitive possibilities of Russian companies
in the energy market, not only in the BRICS,
but also in the Middle East and Africa.
«Those are the most likely export destinations for these
and other technologies, where the combination of
affordable prices and good efficiency could be
a decisive advantage», Tsiviliov said.
In this regard, the head of the Ministry of Energy mentioned
the technologies for the construction of complex well
trajectories, the methods to increase the production
of high viscosity oil that is difficult to recover, as
well as equipment for the oil and gas industry
among the most promising areas for export.
«We have already accumulated experience that we plan to share.
We can increase the export of technical solutions in the field of
the construction of complex well paths, as well as methods to
increase the production of high viscosity and difficult to
recover oil.»
«As for equipment - these include centrifugal and piston
compressors, pumping units, turbo-expander units,
drives, as well as modular equipment and well
termination technologies», Tsiviliov listed.
________________________________________
US destroyer in Trinidad and Tobago,
more tension with Venezuela
October 27th, 1:19am
(Prensa Latina)
Tension with Venezuela continues to increase today, the destroyer
USS Gravely, of the US Navy, arrived in Trinidad and Tobago for
military exercises amid the Pentagon's unprecedented naval
deployment to the Caribbean Sea.
The Caribbean country is located very close to Venezuela... a few
kilometres from its coasts. The island of Trinidad is located just
11 kilometres from the Venezuelan coast at its closest point.
Press agencies reported that the warship anchored at a
dock in Port of Spain this Sunday morning... under
strong security measures.
This very day, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham declared
that ground attacks in Venezuela are a «real possibility».
«I think President (Donald) Trump has decided that (Nicolás)
Maduro, the leader of Venezuela, is a drug trafficker (...) and
that it is time for him to go, that Venezuela and Colombia
have been havens for narco-terrorists for too long”, the
legislator noted, echoing the false accusations.
Graham commented on CBS' Face the Nation that the president
told him he plans to brief members of Congress upon his return
from Asia on possible future military operations against
Venezuela --- and Colombia.
Last week, Trump suggested that ground attacks - will be
«the next step», stating that «drugs entering by sea
represent approximately five percent of what they
were a year ago» due to the attacks, highly
criticized, by the way.
But Trump has so far presented no evidence to support his claims,
while attacks on vessels are already at number 10 with at least
43 dead in ''operations'' in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.
Graham anticipated there will be a congressional briefing on
ground attacks, not an invasion, and he repeatedly cited the
sad chapter of then-President George H.W.'s invasion of
Panama. Bush in 1989. He recalled that at that time his
administration did not receive legislative approval.
The US invasion of Panama under the name of «Just Cause»
had the pretext of removing the Government of General
Manuel Antonio Noriega from power.
Democratic Senator Rubén Gallego of Arizona - warned the day
before on NBC's Meet the Press, that the actions of the Trump
administration in the Caribbean are «what it is committing is
an authorized murder”.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell announced on October 24 the
deployment in the Caribbean of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald
Ford, the largest in the world, it joins eight US ships already
in the region, including three destroyers, a cruiser, three
assault ships and amphibious transport, F-35B fighter
jets and P-8 patrol aircraft or MQ-9 drones operating
from a base in Puerto Rico.
In this scenario, Trump also ordered the CIA to carry out covert
operations within that country under the pretext of combating
drug cartels. Caracas authorities warn that there is a greater
purpose: to overthrow the democratically elected president,
Nicolás Maduro.
____________________________________
Iván Cepeda, undisputed candidate
of the Historical Pact in Colombia
October 27th, 1:12am
(Prensa Latina)
Senator Iván Cepeda is today the candidate of the left-wing
coalition Historical Pact to aspire to the Presidency of
Colombia, after obtaining 65 percent of the citizens'
votes in an election held yesterday.
The day, in which over 2,750,000 went to the polls,
was considered a success for the coalition
because it was an internal consultation
and the presidential elections are
still seven months away.
Cepeda, who surpassed former Health Minister Carolina Corcho
by about 37%, is now expected to, in March of next year, face
other candidates integrated into the centre-left forces, in a
process of purification between representatives of what
has been called Frente Amplio.
For the country's president, Gustavo Petro, the result of the
citizen exercise shows that the Historical Pact has more
voters than most political parties on real election dates.
He reflected that.. what is to come is “a candidacy of a winning
Frente Amplio and a Congress with an absolute majority of the
Frente Amplio ---- that is approved by the National Constituent
Assembly so that the Constitution is fulfilled and guarantees
now ---- the fundamental rights of Colombians”.
In another of his messages posted on his social network account
X, he estimated that, thanks to Trump, in reference to the attack
against the South American country, by the president of the US,
“the Pact is consolidated as the 1st political force in Colombia”
before it even has legal status.
Petro's reaction, is taken as strong support for progressivism in the
midst of a barrage of aggression by Washington, which began with
the inclusion of the New Granada country on a list of nations that
allegedly do not cooperate in the fight against drug trafficking, it
continued with the withdrawal of financial aid and was finished
off with the imposition of sanctions on its head of state.
One of the outstanding facts of the day, in which the order of the
lists that the Historical Pact will propose to Congress will also
be voted on was the broad support given to Walter Rodríguez,
an influencer better known as Wally ----- who headed the list
for the Senate with over 80,000 votes.
Something similar happened with regard to the House of
Representatives, since Laura Beltrán, the creator of
content on digital networks known as Lalis, came
second with 26,000 votes, meanwhile, Daniel
Monroy, also very popular in the virtual
environment, secured fourth position.
The coalition consultation, has traveled a winding path.
Although there were five associations that wanted to join the
Historical Pact as a single party, the National Electoral
Council (CNE) only allowed it for the Patriotic Union
(UP), the Colombian Communist (PCC) and Polo
Democrático (PD), and also conditioned this
merger on administrative issues, that
have not yet been resolved.
As it does not yet hold the category as the only community,
the UP and PCC parties renounced participating in the
consultation..... so that the exercise would be
considered internal and not interparty.
For this reason, the two candidates for the Presidency for
the Historical Pact received the endorsement of a single
party, in this case ---- that of the PD.
If this exercise were taken as interparty, whoever won
the consultation.. would be prevented from facing the
candidates of the so-called Frente Amplio in March
2026, a process in which the coalition aspires to
participate with the ambition of adding more
support with a view to the presidential
elections on May 31, 2026.
In the opinion of analysts --- the fact that voters exceeded
2,750,000, shows that the Historical Pact has the muscle
for future electoral contests and even predicts support
that is not inconsiderable in this regard, to their
representation in Congress.
_____________________________________
The EU... remains Russia's third-largest
trading partner despite the sanctions
October 25th, 8:46pm
(Vesti.ru)
Despite the sanctions, the EU remains Russia's third-largest
trading partner. This was reported by Bild, citing data
provided by the German Economic Institute (Institut
der deutschen Wirtschaft, IW).
The publication reports that Russian
exports increased by 18% last year.
"The parties' total trade turnover, is
67.5 billion euros," the article notes.
At the same time, China became Moscow's key trading
partner in 2024. It is specified that the total volume
of trade between the two countries reached
$244.9 billion.
Earlier, Kirill Babaev, Director of the Institute of China and
Contemporary Asia at the Russian Academy of Sciences,
stated that the trade turnover between Russia and China
could reach about $500 billion in five years. Despite
logistical difficulties - and secondary sanctions,
which carry very big risks for many Chinese
companies and banks, the trade turnover
between the two states is growing
rapidly, he emphasized.
_______________________________________________
Trump’s Second Term:
Politicizing the Judiciary,
Suppressing Freedoms
& Deepening Division
October 25th, 5:32pm
by Mohammad Alloush
(al Manar)
Donald Trump, the US president, appears to have carried
his businessman mentality with him into the Oval Office.
Known for his catchphrase --- “You’re fired,” Trump has
turned the White House into a stage for self-promotion
at the expense of a whole nation. Behind the slogans
“America First” & “Make America Great Again” lies
a brand of right-wing populism..... that cloaks
discrimination and racism in the guise of
patriotism --- as if citizenship were a
hereditary privilege reserved only
for “authentic White Americans.”
Trump’s administration is openly practicing racial discrimination.
This is evident in the dismissal and exclusion of officials of
colour - not for professional reasons, but for ideological
disagreement. Charles “C.Q.” Brown Jr., the second
Black officer to chair the Joint Chiefs of Staff - was
abruptly fired in February 2025 - as part of a major
shake-up of the Pentagon’s top military leaders
- targeting those who supported diversity,
equity, and inclusion programs.
Gwynne Wilcox, the first Black chairwoman of the National Labour
Relations Board, was also “illegally” dismissed, according to
federal judges. Her firing was deemed a “blatant violation”
of the NLRB’s independence and an attack on the
integrity of the agency itself.
Trump’s team demonstrated a striking lack of professionalism in its
public responses. When a Huffington Post reporter asked White
House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt who had suggested
Budapest as the location for the Trump-Putin meeting,
she mockingly replied, “Your mom did.”
It is no longer surprising that Trump shows open contempt for half
the country, treating some American cities as rebellious colonies
to be subdued by force. “We should use some of our cities as
training grounds for our military,” Trump once suggested as
he deployed federal troops to instill fear in Los Angeles
and other urban centres. His effort to treat residents
of Democrat-leaning states as subjects, have
become so routine that it rarely makes
headlines anymore.
Hate speech in the Trump era was not enough; he also transformed
government institutions into instruments of his personal will.
Trump shut down the federal government, as one might
close a failed business ------ simply because Congress
refused to fund the construction of the U.S.-Mexico
border wall — leaving tens of thousands of federal
workers unpaid. He has consistently sought to
undermine judicial independence --- through
threats and insinuations ---- reshaping the
law to serve his own desires and beliefs.
Thus, American democracy has been left at the mercy of an
egocentric man who sees himself as the law, history,
and destiny.
Trump even called for the impeachment of a federal judge who
ordered a halt to the deportation of more than 200 immigrants
to El Salvador, whom Trump had labeled “Venezuelan gang
members.” He has previously derided federal judges as
“fools” attempting to limit his power. The tension
escalated when Chief Justice John Roberts
issued a rare public statement rebuking
Trump’s attacks on the judiciary ——
exposing a growing rift between
the White House and the courts.
Watchdogs warn that this conflict could evolve into a full-blown
constitutional crisis, as the Trump administration seeks to
sidestep judicial rulings to advance its political agenda.
While the administration has not yet openly defied
court orders, many fear that such a move may
be imminent.
Erez Reuveni Exposes Justice Dept
Misconduct -- During the Trump Era
Erez Reuveni, a former attorney at the Department of Justice,
revealed... that he witnessed government lawyers lying in
court, defying judicial orders, and deporting detainees
without allowing them to defend themselves.
Reuveni refused to sign a legal brief that falsely labeled
a deportee as a terrorist, describing it as a flagrant
violation of due process. His refusal led to his
dismissal from the Department of Justice
after 15 years of service.
Choosing truth over complicity, he spoke publicly to defend
the rule of law and expose the dangers of authoritarian
abuse within the Justice Department.
Legal experts note that these unprecedented violations - have
eroded judicial trust in the Department of Justice, sparking a
nationwide debate over the limits of executive power and
the rights of individuals facing government overreach.
Source: Al-Manar English Website
___________________________________
Dmitriev: Trump knows military escalation
------ is the main threat to the entire world
October 25th, 1:59am
(Vesti.ru)
The White House administration --- led by US President Donald
Trump, is aware that military escalation could pose the most
significant threat to humanity, and is making decisions
based on these risks --- according to Kirill Dmitriev,
Special Representative of the Russian President
for Investment and Economic Cooperation and
Head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund
(RDIF). TASS has provided a fragment of
his interview with CNN journalist
Lara Logan.
According to Dmitriev, a military escalation in which decisions are
made without understanding the possible consequences, could
become the biggest existential threat for the entire world.
"I think that we should all be aware of the risks that military
escalation entails. I believe... that it is easy for people who
are moving forward step by step, to understand that they
are very close to the complete destruction of humanity.
Therefore, we just need to keep this in mind - and
consider this possibility. I think that the Trump
administration is aware of this and is making
very careful decisions," said the Russian
President's Special Representative.
Dmitriev did not comment on the question about the possible
supply of American Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine.
On October 23, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that
Moscow's response to any Tomahawk missile strikes on its
territory would be severe, if not overwhelming.
Earlier, the head of the RDIF reminded that former US President
Joe Biden sought to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia and
isolate it on the international stage, but he failed to do so.
_____________________________________________________________
Venezuelan Armed Forces ---
reject fascist right-wing call
October 24th, 2:32pm
(Prensa Latina)
The Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) today rejected
the call from sectors of the fascist right based abroad for
an invasion against Venezuela and assassinating the
president, Nicolas Maduro.
In statements throughout the country, the heads of the
Comprehensive Defense Operational Zones,
accompanied by the National Militia and
security agencies, expressed their
repudiation of the open support
of these groups for aggressive
acts by the US Government.
They affirmed that the call to bomb the homeland and the
incitement to the assassination of the Commander in
Chief and constitutional president elected by the
people, constitutes a serious threat to national
sovereignty and they reject --- “any offense
against the legitimate authorities”.
The military commanders in their messages affirmed that those
who promote aggression and war demonstrate ignorance for
life --- and will be judged as traitors to the country before
the courts of justice.
They also described the pronouncement of the fascist right
as an interventionist, fascist, miserable and deplorable act
“against the worthy Venezuelan people”.
The FANB commanders recalled that this oligarchy historically
promoted invasions against the country to protect its own
interests, which they considered a contemptible act --
and cowardice.
“Requesting a bombing -- to assassinate our Commander in Chief
violates the Charter of the United Nations and international law”,
they asserted.
They ratified that Venezuelans “we will defend peace,
independence and sovereignty, in a prevailing and
unrestricted manner”.
“We are determined to be free and no power in the world will be
able to subjugate the people of Venezuela”, they reaffirmed.
In statements to international media in Spain, where the fugitive
from Venezuelan justice --- and founder of the right-wing party
Voluntad Popular resides, Leopoldo López considered as a
“correct and necessary deployment” of the US in the
Caribbean to be able to “identify their objectives
within Venezuela”.
“I think it is correct that this pressure is not only applied at sea,
as has already happened with several vessels, but that this
can advance to objectives within the national territory”,
he stressed.
The Minister for Defense, General in Chief Vladimir Padrino,
called those sectors that call for war from outside
scoundrels and cowards, and he stressed that
the imposition of force to reach their means
are aberrant and warlike attitudes.
He called them “slaves and fifth column subjects” and pointed
out that it is very easy to call for aggression from the most
luxurious neighbourhoods where they live, “in a true act
of cowardice”, he stressed.
Padrino assured.... that the FANB will never allow a kneeling,
slavish and genuflecting government in the interests of the
US; andstated “we are a free country --- built with a lot of
sacrifice and we are facing a military threat --- never
seen before in 100 years”.
_____________________________________________________
Venezuela... deploys troops to coastline
amid US military buildup in Caribbean
October 24th, 11:24am
(PressTV)
The Venezuelan defense minister says the armed forces are
maintaining a full deployment along the country's coastline
as the US steps up military buildup in the Caribbean.
Vladimir Padrino Lopez made the remarks on Thursday, saying
Venezuela’s army is seeking to achieve the "optimal point"
of coordination and readiness to respond to the US'
actions in the region.
Venezuela’s military efforts include "reconnaissance operations on
land routes, aerial surveillance, exploration and radio operations,
drone surveys, and amphibious maneuvers" across coastal
regions, he added.
Earlier ---------- on Thursday, two US Air Force B-1
bombers flew flew near the coast of Venezuela.
However, US President Donald Trump denied the flight, saying,
“No, it’s not accurate. No. It’s false. But we’re not happy with
Venezuela for a lot of reasons. Drugs being one of them”.
Trump further noted that “the land is going to be next”
in his campaign to halt the alleged flow of drugs
into the US from Venezuela.
He also insisted that he could continue to launch strikes
against suspected drug traffickers abroad without
Congress first passing an official declaration
of war.
US Senator Adam Schiff said, “The president should come to
Congress. Legally, he is required to come to Congress.
Though he may not get the answer he expects.
Americans don’t want another war.”
Similarly, Justin Amash, a former Republican congressman,
criticized Trump, saying, “The Constitution doesn’t permit
a president to act as the legislature and judiciary on top
of being the chief executive.”
Last week, at least two US B-52 bombers flew for several hours off
the Venezuelan coast in what one senior American official called
“a show of force.” Trump also admitted --- to green lighting a
regime change plan in Venezuela.
Washington has already deployed eight warships, a nuclear-
powered submarine and fighter jets to the Caribbean
under the pretext of combating drug smuggling
into the US.
For at least nine times ---- the US military has conducted
strikes against suspected drug boats, killing 37 people.
US war secretary Pete Hegseth posted on X the videos of the
latest US strikes, which did not happen in the Caribbean Sea
but in the eastern Pacific Ocean, signaling an expansion of
the lethal attacks.
On Wednesday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said his
country had 5,000 Russian-made Igla-S anti-aircraft missiles
in “key air defense positions.”
He also emphasized that the massive stockpile is intended
to guarantee "the peace, stability and tranquility" of the
Venezuelan people.
______________________________________________
Cuba advocates defending the
founding principles of the UN
October 24th, 11:03am
(Prensa Latina)
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez, expressed the need
to protect the United Nations (UN) in the face of the threat
that the United States government represents today, to
its founding principles.
We have the duty to protect and strengthen it. We have to avoid
its subordination to the priorities and capricious rules imposed
by those who provide the greatest financing, said the highest
representative of the island's diplomacy in his profile in X, on
the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the organization.
Founded in 1945, the UN facilitates cooperation on issues such as
international law, international peace and security, and economic
and social development, humanitarian affairs and human rights.
___________________________
Noboa proposes sites for
foreign military bases
in Ecuador
October 24th, 10:27am
(Prensa Latina)
The president of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, has suggested some
places where he believes that foreign military bases could
be installed... if the proposal is approved in the popular
referendum, which is just over 3 weeks away today.
Regarding military bases, the president announced that they
are already analyzing possible locations, even though he
has not even started the campaign - prior to the
consultative process.
Among the places he mentioned are Baltra Island, in the
Galapagos Islands, or points to the coastal provinces
of Santa Elena or Manabí.
«Baltra has been a strategic point. Hence illegal fishing is
controlled. In World War II Baltra was a United States»
military base, the president said.
In addition, he referred to his intentions to draft a new
Constitution, another of the questions that he will
consult at the polls on November 16.
On this topic, he maintained that opening to foreign investment
must be one of the axes ----- if the proposal is approved,
otherwise, he said, he will respect the popular will.
Noboa also classified his political line as a “very moderate
social democracy” and added... that his economic model
resembles that of Lula da Silva's government in Brazil.
On the other hand, the head of state referred to military
actions against drug trafficking and illegal mining,
crimes that he stated are closely linked.
In relation to the strike promoted by the indigenous movement
with protests for a month against his Government's measures
such as the elimination of the diesel subsidy, Noboa said
that “it became politicized”.
In addition, there were three deaths, hundreds of injuries and
arrests, leading to reports of human rights violations due to
the excessive use of force by the police and military.
Regarding the attack on the presidential caravan in the southern
province of Cañar, on October 7, Noboa acknowledged that
there were no bullets, but there were objects that could
kill someone and he indicated that the process “will
continue with the entire legal procedure” after the
suspects were released.
Likewise, the president referred to an alleged poisoning
attempt against him and denounced that the food they
gave him contained ''toxic components''.
_________________________________
China for win-win cooperation
as part of trade strategy
October 24th, 1:07am
(Prensa Latina)
China stressed today that its future strategy will be based on
mutually beneficial cooperation, not on zero-sum games or
practices that harm other economies.
According to Trade Minister Wang Wentao, the country will take
advantage of its internal market ---- with more than 1.4 billion
inhabitants and a middle class that will exceed 800 million
in the next decade - to boost consumption and attract
global innovation.
According to the Minister, the development of new productive
forces in artificial intelligence, biotechnology and renewable
energies will be promoted, turning the country into a key
laboratory and market ---- for emerging technologies.
Wang noted that the country will accelerate the construction of
a high-level market system, with clear, predictable rules and
aligned with international standards.
He cited foreign executives who consider that “investing in China
is not an option, but a necessity” and reiterated --- that foreign
companies “are not visitors, but part of the family”.
As an example, he mentioned that foreign brands represent a third
of sales in the national vehicle renewal program, thanks to the
full application of their good, nationwide treatment.
The minister announced that access barriers will be further
reduced, especially in services, with new openings in
value-added telecommunications, biotechnology
and hospitals with 100 percent foreign capital.
Openness in education and culture will also be gradually
expanded, and dialogue with companies will be
strengthened through periodic meetings
to transform their demands into
concrete policies.
Regarding trade tensions with the United States, Wang stated
that dialogue and cooperation are “the only correct option”,
in line with what President Xi Jinping expressed.
He stressed that China opposes decoupling and
defends the stability of global supply chains.
He also highlighted that the four previous rounds of negotiations
demonstrated that it is possible to resolve differences, through
mutual respect.
The minister made these notes during a press conference
dedicated to presenting the recommendations to the
XV Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), approved by the
Central Committee of the Communist Party
of China.
China's trade policy for the next five years seeks to consolidate
its role as a predictable and open partner, at a time when the
world faces economic uncertainty ....and growing trade
fragmentation.
____________________________________
Explosions and fires occurred at
two oil refineries in Romania
and Hungary
October 21st, 3:36pm
(RT.ru)
Explosions and fires occurred at two oil
refineries in Romania and Hungary
within a day.
The newspaper Magyar Nemzet reports that a fire broke out at
the MOL oil refinery in Hungary on the evening of October 20.
"There were no injuries, and the exact cause of the
incident is being investigated," the article says.
On the afternoon of October 20, an explosion occurred
at an oil refinery in the Romanian city of Ploiesti.
According to RBC, both enterprises worked with Russian oil. It
is noted that MOL's plants receive raw materials through the
southern branch of the Druzhba pipeline. The enterprise in
Romania, where the incident occurred, in turn, belongs
to the Russian company Lukoil.
The Petrotel-LUKOIL plant's press service told
RBC that an investigation is underway.
Earlier, it was reported that an explosion at
an oil refinery in Romania killed one person.
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The Russian Armed Forces --- stood up for
the widow of an SVO soldier who was
being asked to repay a loan
October 21st, 3:33pm
(Vesti.ru)
The Russian Supreme Court has intervened on behalf of the widow
of a special military operation soldier, from whom debt collectors
demanded repayment of a loan taken out before February 2022.
This was reported by the court's press service.
The publication notes that the wife of a SVO fighter lives in
Moscow. She filed a complaint with the court because a
collection agency had purchased her loan debt from
the bank.
The loan agreement was concluded before February 2022. In this
regard, the courts of first and appellate instances concluded
...that the legal provision that ensures the complete
elimination of debts owed by family members of
deceased military personnel is not applicable
in this case, according to the press service.
As a result, the court ordered the borrower to
pay 569,000 rubles to the debt collectors.
However, this ruling was contested by the Supreme Court of the
Russian Federation, which annulled the previous decisions
and rejected the claims of debt collection agencies.
Earlier, it was reported that in the Volgograd region, participants
in the special operation are released from debts. The amount
of suspended and terminated enforcement proceedings
amounted to 2.6 billion rubles.
__________________________________
Professor Fenenko called the plan
to stop using Russian gas a step
towards Europe's militarization
October 21st, 1:24pm
(Vesti.ru)
The plan to phase out Russian gas - is a step towards the
remilitarization of European countries. This opinion was
expressed by Alexey Fenenko, Professor of the Faculty
of World Politics of the Lomonosov Moscow State
University, in the program "60 Minutes" on the
TV channel"Russia 1".
According to the expert, Europe will return to pursuing an
aggressive policy in small countries in Asia and Africa
in order to compensate for the loss of Russian
energy resources.
"If we get a Europe with a powerful army, we often say, where
will they look for an alternative to our energy resources?
They will return to their arrogant and aggressive
policies in the Third World... suffocating the
small countries of Africa and Asia. They
will do what they have been doing for
centuries in their history.
''Therefore, the remilitarization of Europe will certainly change
the configuration and, of course, change global politics. And
the fact that they are developing a plan to stop using
Russian gas - is a step in that direction,"
Fenenko explained.
The professor added that the EU will be able to play a more
active role in Eastern Europe when it "creates a powerful
army and a powerful military-industrial complex - again."
On Monday, October 20, the EU Council approved the EU
Commission's plan to phase out Russian gas imports
from January 1, 2026. A transition period until
January 1, 2028, has been set ------- for a
complete ban.
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New group of Cuban students
......arrives in Russia
October 21st, 1:14pm
(Prensa Latina)
A new group of 13 young Cubans who will carry out their
studies in prestigious higher education institutions in
the Russian Federation, arrived today in the capital,
as Prensa Latina learned.
This is the second group to arrive in Moscow, with which there
are now 24 students from the Caribbean nation who are on
Russian soil as part of the strengthening of the Plan of
100 scholarships planned for the current 2025-2026
school year.
The aforementioned plan is integrated into the agreements
between the governments of the Republic of Cuba and the
Russian Federation, and students will study specialties
that correspond to priorities of the Economic and
Social Development Program of the Party and
the Revolution until 2030, in strategic
sectors such as energy, oil, rail
transportation, environment,
tourism and agriculture.
The Minister of Education and Science of the Cuban diplomatic
mission in Moscow, Alberto Turro, stated that the students are
linked to central State administration organizations such as
the ministries of Energy and Mines, Science, Technology,
Innovation and Environment, Tourism, and Industries.
He also thanked the government of the Russian Federation,
the Ministry of Higher Education and Science, the Program
Operating Institution “Interabrazavanie”, and the
Universities and Science Institutions of Russia
for their welcome and their dedication to the
comprehensive training of young Cubans.
____________________________________________
Ecuador registers 25 homicides daily,
according to official data
October 21st, 9:28am
(Prensa Latina)
Ecuador is going through one of the bloodiest periods in its
recent history, with an average of 25 homicides per day
between January and September 2025, according to
figures from the Ministry of the Interior -----
available today.
In those nine months, the country recorded 6,799 intentional
homicides, which is equivalent to one person murdered
every 58 minutes.
The number exceeds by 36.76 percent the 4,970
murders recorded in the same period of 2024.
Official data indicate that the majority of crimes were committed
with firearms, reflecting the growing influence of organized
crime and the ease of access to weapons.
Some of the most brutal massacres occurred in the
coastal province of Guayas, considered the most
violent in the country.
The Government insists that it has faced an internal armed
conflict since January 2024, when President Daniel
Noboa declared war on criminal gangs.
Despite the numerous decrees of states of emergency and the
commitment of the authorities to confront crime, homicides
continue to rise ---- and the population demands answers.
____________________________________________________
ALBA-TCP Condemns Trump’s
Threats Against Colombian
President Petro
October 21st, 8:04am
(teleSUR)
On Monday, the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America
(ALBA-TCP) rejected the latest threats by U.S. President Donald
Trump against Colombian President Gustavo Petro. In a
statement, the Latin American bloc said the following:
“The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America expresses
its strongest condemnation of the recent verbal attacks and
threats made by President Donald Trump against the
sovereignty of the Republic of Colombia and its
president, Gustavo Petro.
The U.S. president has unleashed a series of lies and falsehoods
aimed at linking President Petro and his government to illicit
drug production, accompanied by threats of military action
and unilateral coercive measures ----- that constitute a
flagrant violation of Colombia’s national sovereignty
and a direct attack on the dignity of its people
and its legitimate leadership.
These actions follow the imposition of coercive tariffs and the
intensification of the U.S. military presence in the Caribbean
Sea, under the pretext of combating drug trafficking -- as an
example of the imperialist and warmongering policy based
on the Monroe Doctrine that threatens peace and stability
in Latin America and the Caribbean.
ALBA expresses its unwavering solidarity with the people and
government of Colombia --- reaffirming its respect for their
sovereignty, democracy, and right to freely decide their
future. It also calls on the international community, to
reject - all forms of interference, pressure, or threats
of the use of force and to defend international law
and peace in our America.
In the face of these attacks, the peoples of our America reaffirm
their unity, dignity, and commitment to social justice, self-
determination, and regional integration, and warn that
they will not accept external impositions that seek
to subjugate their countries.”
Earlier, on Sunday - Trump announced the end of U.S. financial aid
to Colombia, citing the Colombian government’s alleged inaction
in the fight against drug trafficking. He accused Petro of being
“a drug trafficking leader” and warned that he planned to
impose trade sanctions.
Petro, who has intensified his criticism of Trump since the U.S.
president ordered a military deployment in the Caribbean in
August under the pretext of combating drug trafficking,
called Trump “rude and ignorant toward Colombia.”
His government said it would appeal to “all
international bodies” ---- to defend the
national sovereignty it considers
“under threat.”
“Trump is angry --- because I didn’t support the U.S. with the
Colombian Army to invade Venezuela. No, sir. What foolish
Colombian could think of helping to invade a place where
their cousins, nephews, their own people — four million
Colombians - live? So they can kill them like in Gaza?”
Petro said, on Monday.
These exchanges come a month after the U.S. removed Colombia
from its list of countries cooperating in the fight against drug
trafficking and after the Trump administration revoked
Petro’s U.S. visa. The decision followed a speech
Petro gave in New York urging U.S. soldiers to
disobey the Republican president’s orders
during a pro-Palestine rally.
_________________________________________
Russia continues to
supply oil to India
October 21st, 1:56am
(Prensa Latina)
Supplies of Russian oil to India continue, the deputy foreign
minister of the Slavic nation, Andrei Rudenko stated today
in an interview with the TASS press agency.
«Everything continues», said the senior diplomat, responding
to the question of whether the supply of Russian oil to India
continues, given the recent words of the president of the
US, Donald Trump, who promised to maintain «huge»
tariffs on India if it does not refuse to buy Russian
energy resources.
This October, the Press Trust of India agency, citing the analysis
company Kpler, reported that imports of Russian oil to India
accelerated in the first half of the month in the context of
an increase in demand for hydrocarbon raw materials
in the South Asian country.
Likewise, the Indian authorities have stated that for the
development of the nation it is strategic to maintain
the supply of fuel, as well as the diversity of
supply sources.
___________________________________________________
Lula travels to Indonesia and Malaysia,
and books a meeting with Trump
October 21st, 12:03am
(Prensa Latina)
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva travels today
to Indonesia.. and then to Malaysia, where a meeting is
reserved for Sunday, in person, with his US counter-
part, Donald Trump.
Both leaders will be in Malaysia for the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Kuala
Lumpur, scheduled for October 26-27.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that a brief and
symbolic meeting is possible ------ to demonstrate the
positive relationship between Brazil and the US.
Regarding the negotiations on the unilateral increase in
taxes on Brazilian products, progress is expected in
the working group of both countries.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vieira, spoke on
October 16, in Washington, with the North American
Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
Shortly after the meeting, in a statement to the press,
Vieira said the dialogue was...... «very productive»,
without detailing the content of the conversation.
He confirmed that Brazil expressed the «need to reverse
the measures initiated in July», specifically the 50%
tariffs imposed on national goods ....and the
sanctions against Brazilian officials.
From now on, the parties' teams established a negotiation
schedule and are expected to hold a virtual technical
meeting in the coming days.
Both sides also “agreed to work together to hold a meeting
between President Trump and President Lula as soon as
possible», reads an excerpt from the joint statement.
On October 6th.... there was a half-hour telephone conversation
between the two leaders and the governments' willingness to
reconnect diplomatically and commercially, was confirmed.
Such contact was a continuation of the brief meeting they held
during the United Nations General Assembly in New York,
just over three weeks ago.
During the call, the two leaders recalled their good chemistry at
the UN and Lula asked for the suspension of taxes imposed by
the United States on national products.
Applauded in diplomatic circles and in the productive sectors,
the long-awaited dialogue between both presidents would
mark a change in the White House's political orientation
towards Brazil.
In recent months, the White House collaborated with allies of
former President Jair Bolsonaro to impose tax increases
and sanctions on Brazilian officials.
If the resumption of commercial and diplomatic relations
between the two countries is confirmed, Bolsonaro will
lose his main support... in his attempt to revoke his
sentence of more than 27 years in prison - for an
attempted coup d'état after the 2022 elections.
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