West attempting to break
‘spine of Russian economy,’
envoy says
May 20th, 00:55am (TASS)
The West is attempting to break the spine of
the Russian economy, Russia’s Permanent
Representative to the UN, Vasily
Nebenzya said, at a session of
the UN Security Council... on
conflicts and food security
on Thursday.
The Russian envoy stressed that the Western
representatives did not mention their
"illegitimate unilateral economic
sanctions, choking a whole
range of countries."
"The truth is, gentlemen, that you got too carried
away, with your unproductive efforts to break
the spine of the Russian economy no matter
what, and to isolate our country,"
he stressed.
"I'm not talking right now about the inevitable
and destructive repercussions for your own
economies. After all, we can do nothing
about your maniacal aspiration - to
voluntarily shoot yourself in the
foot ...or even both feet. You
will have to answer for the
consequences.. of this
policy.. on your home
markets before your
own taxpayers and
voters" --- Russia's
envoy pointed out.
He also noted: that the West is fanning the flames of
a "proxy war" with Russia, in Ukraine, while holding
developing countries as hostage. "In the context of
your own actively ignited ‘proxy war’ with Russia
in Ukraine, you - essentially - took the entire
developing world hostage, indeed, pushing
it to the edge of starvation," the diplomat
said.
He also added that Kiev is dodging cooperation on
the secure exit of vessels from the Black Sea,
despite Russia offering such opportunities.
According to him, if this issue is not resolved,
the maritime transportation of Ukrainian
grain remains impossible, which will
exacerbate the global food crisis.
___________________________________
Russian UN envoy says food
crisis started well before
Russia’s operation
in Ukraine
May 19th, 7:12pm (TASS)
Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily
Nebenzya on Thursday said the food crisis started
long before the Russian special operation
in Ukraine.
"Let's remember that the threat of a global food crisis
didn’t emerge this year," he said at a UN Security
Council meeting on food security. "The
possibility of a famine --- of biblical
proportions and a perfect storm ---
was announced by the Executive
Director of the UN World Food
Program, who is attending
this meeting, back
in 2020."
"At the time, about 155 million people in 55 countries
were exposed to critical threats in the field of food
security," Nebenzya said.
__________________________________
CELAC Is a Meeting Point for all Latin Americans:
President Ortega
May 19th, (teleSUR)
Referring to the unwillingness of the U.S. to invite
Nicaragua to the 2022 Summit of the Americas,
the Sandinista leader pointed out that such
an event "does not interest us."
On Wednesday, Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega
called for strengthening the Community of Latin
American and Caribbean States (CELAC) as
the most appropriate space... for the
meeting of the peoples and their
governments of the region.
“Our starting point is CELAC. Now, we need to
strengthen it --- so that this community has
more sovereignty and autonomy,” he said
during the celebrations for the 127th
anniversary of the birth of Augusto
Cesar Sandino, the hero of the
Nicaraguan struggle against
U.S. imperialism.
"CELAC was born... with the strength and energy of
the revolutionary processes that were multiplying
in Latin America and the Caribbean," Ortega
recalled, stressing that its promoters had
the courage not to include the US in
that community.
This does not mean that CELAC does not develop
relations with nations outside the region or other
integration processes in the world. Its inter-
national relations, however, are based on
reciprocal respect, Ortega explained &
recalled... that CELAC has extensive
exchanges with countries such as
Russia, China, and India.
Referring to the unwillingness of the U.S. to invite
Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to the 2022
Summit of the Americas, the Sandinista
leader pointed out that "we have to
make ourselves respected,"
adding that "the summit
does not interest us."
However, the Nicaraguan president thanked the
concern & courage of several Latin American
governments that rejected the exclusionary
attitude adopted by Washington.
“The spectacle that the Yankee rulers are giving
with this so-called 'Summit of the Americas'
is a shame,” Ortega pointed out, and
suggestedthat CELAC invite the US
to a continental meeting in which
the Latin Americans do not
exclude anyone.
_________________________________
Russia demands review of
sanctions in order to open
Black Sea ports
May 19h, 3:40pm (PressTV)
The Kremlin says anti-Russia sanctions must be
reviewed first -- if Moscow is to heed an appeal
by the United Nations to open Ukraine’s Black
Sea ports for grain exports.
Since the onset of Russia’s special military
operation in Ukraine, on February 24th,
waves of unprecedented [illegal]
sanctions from the US and its
European allies, have been
imposed on Moscow.
David Beasley, executive director of the UN’s World
Food Programme, appealed on Wednesday to
Russian President Vladimir Putin, to open
Ukraine’s Black Sea ports... for grain
exports from the ex-Soviet country,
which is one of the world’s
biggest grain producers.
Ukraine, which is a major exporter of corn, barley,
sunflower oil and rapeseed oil, used to export
most of its goods through its main ports on
the Black and Azov seas, but since the
operation, it's been forced to export
by train, or via its small Danube
River ports.
The ongoing conflict has reduced its grain exports
this month, by more than half, compared to a
year ago.
The WFP, which purchases almost 50 percent of its
grain from Ukraine, feeds some 125 million people
around the world.
On Thursday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei
Rudenko responded to Beasley, saying, “You have to
not only appeal to the Russian Federation, but also
look deeply at the whole complex of reasons that
caused the current food crisis.”
Referring to anti-Russia sanctions, Rudenko added
that “in the first instance, these are the sanctions
that have been imposed against Russia --- by the
US and EU --- that interfere with normal free
trade, encompassing food products
including wheat, fertilizers
and others.”
_________________________________________________
New generation of pioneers:
Lawmakers propose
launching Russia-
wide children's
movement
May 19th, 12:51pm (TASS)
A group of Russian lawmakers on Thursday
submitted a bill to the State Duma.. on the
establishment of a nationwide children's
and youth movement.
The initiative to launch the Bolshaya Peremena
(The Great Change) movement was put forward
on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the
Soviet Union’s Young Pioneers organization,
established on May 19th, 1922, five years
after the October Revolution of 1917.
The best of the pioneer organization’s practices will
be used in the work of the new movement... said
the Federation Council Deputy Speaker, Galina
Karelova, one of the bill’s authors. "All of
us have childhood pioneer memories full
of romance and joy. The new movement
will somehow use the practices [of
the pioneer organization], first
and foremost, the traditions
of mentorship," Karelova
noted.
She said the movement would be established
to boost children's development and their
participation in public life. Under the
draft law, the new organization will
unite schoolchildren over six
years old, as well as
college students.
Bolshaya Peremena will offer voluntary membership
and equal rights for all participants. The movement
will be non-commercial and self-managed and
would focus on the comprehensive
development and self-realization
of children and teenagers.
President Vladimir Putin will be asked to head
the supervisory council of the new movement.
________________________________________________
Reckless Western sanctions
may trigger global famine —
Russian presidential aide
May 19th, 1:02pm (TASS)
Reckless political decisions... made by the United
States and the European Union, will be the main
cause of this year’s global famine. Russia back
in 2021, took measures to avoid a food crisis,
Russian presidential aide, Maxim Oreshkin
said... in a lecture at the educational
marathon conference New Horizons
organized by the Russian Znanie
(Knowledge) society,
on Thursday.
"The reckless sanctions brought in by the
US and the EU was the last stage. They
worsened fertilizer logistics, and food
logistics, thus, dooming the world to
famine. The root cause of the global
famine due this year should be seen
in the reckless economic policies
by the United States and the
European Union, in their
monetary and budget
policies," Oreshkin
said.
He warned that global famine would be a
result of the soaring prices of wheat
and fertilizers.
"Approximately before the middle of 2020 the
prices of wheat on the global market, had
remained rather stable. They suited both
the consumers and producers. But when
the dollar emission began to expand,
starting from July 2020, a period of
quick growth followed.''
''Approximately 60% of the price hikes were caused
by the printing of fiat dollars in the US economy.
The situation eventually went out of control.
The huge money supply brought about gas
shortages on the European market & gas
price hikes, a decline in the production
of fertilizers, a shortage of fertilizers.
For this reason, future crop yields
will fall," Oreshkin said.
Russia in 2021 took certain steps
to avoid a domestic food crisis.
"We are self-sufficient in grain and most foods. It
was crucial to rule out the risk of a shortage of
fertilizers on the domestic market. At the end
of last year,... restrictions on the export of
fertilizers were introduced. This farming
season, the supply of fertilizers, is
stable, it is even better, than last
year. This enables us to build up
reserves. We have introduced
taxes on the export of wheat
and sunflower seeds. All this
...enables us to feel calm,"
Oreshkin said.
_______________________________
High turnout for early voting
celebrated in Australia
by Aleynes Palacios Hurtado
May 19th, 9:14am (Prensa Latina)
Electoral authorities on Thursday highlighted the
unprecedented turnout of almost seven million
people, in the early voting for the general
election, slated on May 21st in
that country.
From May 9th to date, 3,870,000 votes have already
been cast in the 500 voting centres deployed
nationwide, and 2,680,000 have been
received by mail, the electoral
commission disclosed
on Thursday.
If that trend continues, it is expected that only the
remaining half of the voters scheduled for the
current election will participate in the
voting on Saturday, the electoral
body added.
Australians will elect all 151 members of the House
of Representatives and 40 of the 76 Senate
members, on Saturday.
Voting in Australia is compulsory, and anyone who
does not go to the polls, faces fines of up to 180
Australian dollars, which is equivalent to 126
US dollars or 120 euros, if they are a
repeat offender.
The opposition Australian Labour Party -- led by
Anthony Albanese, continues to lead in voting
intentions, pointing to an eventual defeat for
Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s Liberal-
National coalition... seeking to win
a fourth consecutive term,
according to polls.
____________________________
India provides food supply
to nations most in need
by Ileana Ferrer Fonte
May 19th, 8:21am (Prensa Latina)
India's Minister of State for External Affairs V.
Muraleedharan reportedly assured that the
country will continue to provide food to
the nations most in need, due to the
war between Russia and Ukraine.
India’s reiteration came after UN Secretary-General
Antonio Guterres, warned that the situation due
to the war threatens to push tens of millions
of people to the brink of food insecurity,
followed by malnutrition, mass
starvation and famine... the
Indo-Asian News Service
reported.
India’s new export policy came at a time when
the country is facing price hikes and domestic
shortages, but Muraleedharan underlined his
country’s commitment to stand by the
nations in need.
A massive market fluctuation and food shortages,
were triggered globally by the disruption of grain
supplies, caused by the confrontation between
Ukraine and Russia, which produce almost a
third of the world’s wheat and barley, and
half of its sunflower oil.
India’s recent wheat export restrictions were
introduced only to manage food security and
support the needs of neighbouring countries
and other vulnerable developing nations,
Muraleedharan said.
The minister said that India donated 50,000 tons
of wheat to Afghanistan, sent 10,000 tons of
rice and wheat to Myanmar and also aid
to Sri Lanka.
_________________________________________________
Ukraine expects half of
last year's harvest in
2022, says minister
May 19th, 01:57am (TASS)
Ukraine expects this year’s harvest in the country to
total half of that in 2021, Minister of Agrarian Policy
and Food, Nikolay Solsky, said at the Food Security
Ministerial organized by the United States
on Wednesday.
"This year... we expect a harvest
50% of last year yields," he said.
The minister also warned that "the next soil campaign
of winter crops is under serious threat" due to the
situation around Ukraine. "Actually, the fate of
three harvests will be at stake this summer,"
he noted.
The global community will be facing an increase in the
wheat price... to $700 per tonne, Solsky believes. The
price of wheat on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange
currently stands at around $430 per tonne. "Are we
prepared to pay $500, 600 or $700 per tonne of
wheat? This situation is critical for the
countries in Asia and Africa, which
imported grain mainly from
Ukraine," the Ukrainian
minister emphasized.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said earlier
on Wednesday --- that the global community would
not be able to fully solve the issue of food crisis
without Russian and Belarusian fertilizers, as
well as, without Ukrainian grain. Russian
products and fertilizers, should have full
and unlimited access to global markets
--- he stressed.
____________________________________
Novak announces growing
settlements in national
currencies between
Russia and Turkey
ANKARA, May 18th, 9:56pm (TASS)
The volume of settlements between Russia and
Turkey, in national currencies, is constantly
growing, and the central banks of the two
countries... are also working on new
mechanisms. for further increasing
settlements in rubles, and the
Turkish lira, Russian Deputy
PM, Alexander Novak,
told reporters.
"The challenge is to develop settlement systems
that would allow to balance volatility risks in
national currencies, such as the lira and the
ruble, and to create the necessary volumes
of liquidity. Because... there is currently a
trade disparity. We export more and we
have a positive trade balance... but
Turkey's is negative. We agreed to
begin... with specific volumes.''
''By the way, settlements in both lira & rubles,
are already underway, and the volume is
constantly increasing," Novak said.
According to him, the central banks of the
two countries are also working to create
mechanisms, that could increase the
volume of settlements in their
national currencies.
At the same time, Russia & Turkey have agreed
to increase the number of flights, both from
Russia and from Turkey, Novak added.
"Agreements were reached to increase the
number of flights by both Turkish airlines
and our companies. This will provide
the necessary number of flights
for the tourist flow,"
he added.
____________________________
Nasrallah: Resistance achieved
'grand victory' in Lebanese
parliamentary vote
May 18th, 6:31pm (PressTV)
The secretary general of the Lebanese Hezbollah
resistance movement, says the resistance
gained a great victory in the elections.
The secretary-general of the Hezbollah resistance
movement says the Sunday parliamentary vote
was a battle against the movement, and the
resistance achieved a “great victory” in
the election.
In his remarks late on Wednesday, Sayyed Hassan
Nasrallah said the large turnout and the outcome
of the election - conveyed a message of people's
adherence and commitment to the resistance.
He said the huge support for Hezbollah and its allies
in the election showed people's commitment to the
path of resistance.
Nasrallah said after years of an aggressive campaign
targeting the resistance, spearheaded by the US, the
number of votes and parliament members had
increased for Hezbollah and its allies
in the Arab country.
The Hezbollah leader further said that, contrary to
claims, there was no single bloc in the parliament
that could claim the majority in elections, adding
that none of the honest political parties made
that claim.
The advantage of not having a single party or group
owning the majority in the parliament, he asserted,
makes everyone equally responsible.
He said, further, that the nature of the crisis in
Lebanon does not allow one single group to
solve the crisis single-handedly, even if
they have the majority, which calls
for cooperation between all
different groups.
He also debunked lies promoted by the opposition,
including that the resistance bloc had sought to
postpone the election, that elections were held
under the presence of Hezbollah's weapons,
and of Iran's influence.
"We saw the US embassy and the electoral lists that
were made there. We saw the Saudi ambassador,
and bags of money that were spent. Did anyone
see any Iranian intruding in those elections,"
he remarked.
Nasrallah called for changing the current election law,
saying it is not like some people would win a seat in
the parliament with 500 votes while others who get
thousands of votes, do not reach the parliament.
He hastened to add that there are several reforms
that need to be made in the election process,
such as allowing people above the age of 18
to vote. The division of the districts, should
also be changed & replaced with making
Lebanon a single electoral district,
he insisted.
___________________________________
Russia bets on greater
cooperation within the
Asian group SCO
by Elsy Fors Garzon
Moscow, May 18th, 4:57pm
(Prensa Latina)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov today
highlighted the importance of establishing
greater cooperation among the member
countries of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO).
In a meeting with the Secretary General of the Asian
group, Zhang Ming, the Russian Foreign Minister
referred to the need to constantly strengthen
the role of the SCO in global and regional
affairs, including in the context of the
formation of a just multipolar
world order.
“An in-depth exchange of views took place on
key issues of the SCO’s activities in modern
conditions. The importance depends on
further promoting diverse interaction
within the organization,” said the
statement released by the
Russian Foreign Ministry.
After the exchange, in which the Secretary General
of the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO), Stanislav Zas, also participated, the
representatives offered a press conference
and emphatically addressed the possible
causes of the expansion of the NATO
Alliance within the region.
Ming pointed out that the constant expansion of the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) does not
strengthen world security, but rather leads to new
conflicts and confrontations.
“NATO was formed in the spirit of Cold War thinking.
This type of thinking does not bring us security, but
rather brings more confrontation and conflict,”
said the SCO’s top representative.
Likewise, he stressed that self-determining countries
that defend their sovereignty, do not want the global
expansion of the tools of the Cold War.
During the SCO meeting, representatives raised
the idea of establishing a Greater Eurasian
Partnership with the countries of the
Eurasian Economic Union, the
Association of Southeast
Asian Nations and other
states and multilateral
associations.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, is a regional
international association that includes Russia, India,
China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan,
Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Since 2004, it has served as an observer
in the United Nations General Assembly.
________________________________________
Malian Government Claims
Western-Backed Coup
Foiled
May 18th, 1:43pm (FNA)
A group of Malian officers attempted a coup last
week, with the help of a Western state, the
government in Bamako announced. While
the military government didn't name the
alleged foreign culprit, the announce-
ment comes amid the ongoing
deterioration of relations
with Mali’s former
colonial ruler,
France.
“A small group of anti-progressive Malian officers and
non-commissioned officers attempted a coup on the
night of May 11th-12th, 2022,” the Government
Spokesman, Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga,
said on national TV.
“These soldiers were supported by a Western state.
The attempt failed, thanks to the vigilance and
professionalism of Mali’s defense and
security forces,” he added.
The government denounced the “outrageous attack
on state security, the purpose of which is to hinder
— or even annihilate — the substantial efforts to
secure our country & return to a constitutional
order that guarantees peace and stability”
in Mali, but offered few details of
the alleged plot.
One anonymous military source, told Al-Jazeera
that about 10 people have been arrested so far.
The government has confirmed that security
at checkpoints around the capital, has
been increased, in an effort to catch
accomplices... that may still be
at large.
Claims of the failed coup came on the same day
Mali withdrew from the G5 Sahel Force, a multi-
national effort to counter militants in the
region. The five-member group set up in
2017, also included: Chad, Burkina
Faso, Mauritania and Nigeria.
Mali is currently ruled by interim President Assimi
Goita, an army colonel who led the 2020 military
coup against President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita –
as well as the May 2021 coup against his
replacement, Bah N’Daw.
After the 2021 coup, Goita’s government has been
accused by Western powers of inviting Russian
private military contractors to help Bamako
fight militants in the North.
Meanwhile, Bamako’s relations with Paris continued
to deteriorate. At Goita’s insistence, France pulled
its troops out of Mali in February. The country
banished the French state media, in March,
accusing them of publishing false reports
about human rights abuses. Earlier this
month, Mali severed defense accords
with Paris, citing “flagrant violations”
of its sovereignty, by French troops.
_____________________________________
Putin Says It’s Impossible
for Some EU Counties to
Ditch Russian Oil Now
May 18th, 8:01am (al Manar)
Russian President Vladimir Putin says some
European counties will not be able to end
their reliance on Russian oil imports for
the time being, as the European Union
(EU) pushes to impose a ban on the
country’s oil over the ''war''
in Ukraine.
“Obviously, some EU states, in whose energy
balance the share of Russian hydrocarbons
is especially high, won't be able to do this
for a long time, to ditch our oil,” the
president said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a televised meeting with domestic
oil managers and government officials, Putin
said that Western sanctions, and a possible
embargo on Russian oil, had resulted in
an increase in global oil prices.
“There are tectonic changes on the oil market, and
making business as it had been done before, in
line with the old model, looks unlikely,” Putin
said, adding that it was important to set up
a complete chain... from producer to
end-buyer.
The European Commission proposed a ban on crude
imports from Russia in early May as part of a raft of
new sanctions to punish Moscow over the military
campaign in Ukraine.
The European Union (EU), however, has, so far,
failed to reach an agreement on the proposal,
as Hungary continues to stand firm against
the proposal.
Hungary has argued the ban, which could last for
years, would “completely destroy” its energy
supply security.
The EU needs unanimous agreement from its 27
members to push through each set of sanctions.
Foreign ministers from the 27 EU countries met in a
gathering on Monday, to discuss the ban, but they
failed in their effort to pressure Hungary to lift
its veto, on an oil embargo on Russia.
“Unhappily, it has not been possible to reach an
agreement today,” said EU foreign policy chief
Josep Borrell.
He said that Hungary set out its argument...
based on economic, not political, concerns.
“I am confident that we will find agreement
in the coming days,” German Foreign
Minister, Annalena Baerbock, said.
Dutch Foreign Minister, Wopke
Hoekstra spoke of a deal soon.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister, Gabrielius
Landsbergis, accused Hungary of
holding the bloc “hostage.”
“We have to agree, we cannot
be held hostage,” he added.
Hungary imports 65 percent of its oil... and
85 percent of its gas supplies from Russia,
according to the Hungarian government
spokesman, Kovacs It has long ruled
out supporting any import ban on
Russian oil and gas.
Hungary and Slovakia, both highly dependent
on Russian oil, have been offered an extra
year to meet the EU demands to enact
the ban.
Some diplomats now hope to reach an agreement
at the May 30th-31st summit, probably over six
months... with a longer transition period for
Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
The US/UK has already imposed an oil embargo
on Russia. The EU has banned Russian coal.
The Russian president warned last that anti-
Moscow sanctions have backfired and that
Western countries have been hit worse by
the bans.
He said that the West “guided by short-sighted,
inflated political ambitions & by Russophobia,
have dealt a much harder blow, to their own
national interests.”
Source: Agencies (edited by
Al-Manar English Website)
_____________________________
Eni opens accounts with
Gazprombank; to pay for
gas supplies from Russia
May 17th, 6:14pm (TASS)
The Italian energy company Eni has begun
the process for opening accounts with
Gazprombank without changing the
current contracts, the company
said in a statement on Tuesday.
"As deadlines for the payment of gas supplies
are scheduled for the next few days, Eni ("the
Company") has begun the process of opening
two K current accounts at Gazprom Bank, on
a precautionary basis (one in euros and the
second in rubles)," according to
the statement.
"This follows Gazprom Export’s unilateral request to
amend the existing contracts between the parties
in accordance with the new gas payment
procedure established by the Russian
Federation. While Eni has rejected
those amendments, the Company
is going to temporarily open the
two accounts without prejudice
to its contractual rights, which
still envisage payment in
euros," the firm said.
According to the statement, Gazprom Export and the
relevant Russian federal authorities have confirmed
that invoicing and payment will continue to take
place in euros (recent invoices have actually
been made in euros, the contractually
agreed currency).
"A clearing point agent operating at the Moscow Stock
Exchange will carry out the conversion into rubles
within 48 hours without any involvement of the
Central Bank of Russia," the company said.
"In the event of any delays or technical inability to
complete the conversion on time, there will be no
impact on supplies," the company added.
The company also indicated that, at the moment, there
are not any European regulations aimed at preventing
the above-mentioned operations. Eni is interested in
fulfilling its obligations to both the supplier
and customers.
Eni, in the absence of complete, exhaustive and
contractually grounded responses by Gazprom
Export, reserves the right to start "an inter-
national arbitration based on Swedish law
(in accordance with the current contracts)
to resolve the uncertainty regarding the
changes introduced by the new pay-
ment procedure and the correct
allocation of costs and risks."
Eni also strongly reaffirms its intention "to comply
with any possible future regulatory provision that
may sanction gas trading or its current
counterparties."
On March 31st, Russian President Vladimir Putin
signed a decree that lays out a new procedure
for paying for gas supplies by buyers from
unfriendly countries. From April 1st, such
states must transfer funds in foreign
currencies to Gazprombank, which
will buy rubles on exchanges and
transfer them to special ruble
accounts of importers.
Russia will continue to supply gas in the
volumes and the prices fixed, in earlier
contracts.
EU officials said that opening ruble accounts would
violate sanctions. However, in accordance with
the latest instructions, Brussels decided to
abandon the ban on ruble accounts... and
offer companies a roadmap to continue
buying Russian gas.
__________________________________________
Colombia Plans Against
Venezuelan Security:
President Maduro
May 17th, (teleSUR)
Previously, former U.S. Defense Secretary Mark
Esper, assured that former President Donald
Trump proposed to the opposition politician
Juan Guaido --- to assassinate
Nicolas Maduro.
On Monday, Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro
denounced that Colombian President Ivan Duque,
finances criminal groups to attack military and
police centres in his country.
"From Colombia, Ivan Duque has put together a plan
and has invested several million dollars, to hire
criminals --- to attack military and police
centres and try to socially destabilize
Venezuela," he said.
Maduro added that Duque's claims are similar to those
that the drug cartels had at the time of drug trafficker
Pablo Escobar Gaviria, who attacked police facilities
and personnel to generate instability.
The Bolivarian leader also requested to investigate
data, published in a book, by former U.S. Defense
Secretary Mark Esper, who assured that former
President Donald Trump proposed to the
opposition politician Juan Guaido,
to assassinate Maduro.
"I hope the National Assembly opens an investigation
into serious revelations... which are related to the
use of Colombian mercenaries to invade
Venezuela and assassinate Nicolas
Maduro and other ministers and
leaders in our country," the
Bolivarian president
emphasized.
Maduro also recalled that the Venezuelan far-right has
encouraged violence and illegal sanctions against
his country, thus obstructing the well-being of
the population.
"Since you re-elected me, we have worked with God's
favour and protection, because we wouldn't be here
if there weren't God's blessing," he said.
_______________________________
Latin America supports
special operation in
Ukraine – ZDF
May 17th, 1pm
https://en.news-front.info/
The Russian Federation’s traditional partners, Latin
American states, express their full solidarity and
support for the current actions of the Russian
Federation, during the special military
operation deployed to denazify and
demilitarize the criminal Kiev
regime in Ukraine. This was
stated on the German-
language television
channel, ZDF.
In particular, the broadcast included statements by
Venezuela's President, Nicolas Maduro, about his
unwavering support for Moscow. Venezuelans,
he said, intend to continue to adhere firmly
to Russia’s position.
In Russia’s friend, Cuba, people cannot hide their
admiration for Russia's actions. Mass demos and
solemn processions with symbols of the Russian
special operation, are being held there.
According to Argentina's authorities, the countries
of the collective West, are bogged down in their
own hypocrisy and trickery, and have become
hostages of the destructive policies - now
aggressively imposed by the US.
Their spokesman claims that the escalation of
the crisis is the result of the reckless actions
of Ukrainian President Zelensky.
European countries, on the other hand, have shown
extreme impatience with Russia, often subjecting
supporters of the pro-Russian agenda... to
administrative and even criminal liability.
______________________________________________
Biden Approves
Redeployment
of US Troops
to Somalia
May 17th, 12:24pm (teleSUR)
Washington seeks to increase its military presence
in this country, to deal with the terrorist threats
posed to U.S. citizens in the region.
On Monday, US President Joe Biden approved a plan
--- to redeploy U.S. troops to the eastern African
country of Somalia, to counter the 'extremist'
group, al-Shabab.
Drawn from forces already deployed in Africa, less
than 500 troops will be repositioned to Somalia to
constitute... "a small, persistent U.S. military
presence" in the country, a senior official
said during a briefing with reporters,
speaking on the condition of
anonymity, under ground
rules... set by the
White House.
The Biden administration's move reversed former
President Donald Trump's order, made in the
waning days of his administration, to pull
out all of the approximately 750
military personnel from
Somalia.
U.S. troops have been serving their duties in the war-
torn country on a rotational basis since Biden took
office, a dynamic the administration now
considers insufficient in addressing
terrorist threats posed to U.S.
persons in the region.
"Al-Shabab has taken advantage of Somali instability
and fractious politics to become, as I indicated, al-
Qaeda's largest and wealthiest global affiliate,"
the official said.
"We have seen regrettably, clear evidence of al-
Shabab's intent and capability to target
US persons in the region," he added.
The official said Trump's decision to withdraw U.S.
troops in Somalia, had created "unnecessary and
elevated risks" to U.S. troops entering or exiting
their country, arguing that the redeployment, is
"a step that rationalizes what was essentially
an irrational argument."
[Rhondda Records adds; not sure the above
statement is sane or logical, wonder what
the Africans think?]
Here's one Tweet...
Marwa Osman
@Marwa__Osman
Biden's entourage is all
#BlackLivesMatter until
Biden invades #Somalia
The US Empire never gets tired of invading,
stealing and imposing puppet regimes in
nations 1,000s of miles away from their
border.. wait until it hits them home.
_________________________________
Biden’s measures on Cuba
insufficient, says Mexican
newspaper
by Ana Luisa Brown
May 17th, 11:18am (Prensa Latina)
The measures on Cuba ...announced by the
government of Joe Biden, are insufficient,
argued today, the local newspaper, La
Jornada, echoing a statement by
the Cuban Foreign Ministry.
In its main headline, the newspaper reported
measures... such as the increase in U.S.
flights to Cuba to relax restrictions on
U.S. travelers to the island and lifting
the limitations imposed by former
President Donald Trump (2017-
2021), on remittances that
Cuban immigrants... can
send to their homeland
But he immediately clarified that this is a limited
step, although in the right direction, which does
not modify, in any way, the blockade imposed
by Washington, for more than 60 years.
The Biden administration will also take measures
to reinstate the Cuban Family Reunification
Permit Program -- which has a backlog of
more than 20,000 applications, and will
increase consular services and
visa processing.
However, he clarified, it does not eliminate the
main economic measures taken by Trump,
who annulled the rapprochement
achieved.... during Barack
Obama’s administration.
It does not reverse the arbitrary and fraudulent
inclusion of Cuba in the State Department’s
list of countries that allegedly sponsor
terrorism, one of the main causes of
the difficulties Cuba faces in its
commercial and financial
transactions, in many
parts of the world,
he told the 'paper,
citing the Cuban
Foreign Ministry.
He added that in order to know the real scope of
this announcement, it will be necessary to wait
for the publication of the regulations that will
determine its application and stressed
Cuba’s willingness to initiate a
respectful and equal
negotiation with
the US.
______________________________________________
EU foreign ministers
fail to agree on sixth
package of sanctions
against Russia
May 17th, 8:11am
https://en.news-front.info/
The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, said
EU foreign ministers failed to agree on a sixth
package of sanctions against Russia
However, it became known that Ukraine will receive
another 500m euros for arms purchases... from the
European Peace Facility.
The EU also intends to help Ukraine empty its grain
storage facilities, by taking it to Europe, by sea,
to make room for a new harvest.
(Lol)
_______________________________________________
Cuba celebrates Farmers’ Day
and First Agrarian Reform Act
by Ileana Ferrer Fonte
May 17th, 7:21am
(Prensa Latina)
Cuba - on Tuesday - is celebrating Farmers' Day,
63 years after the signing of the First Agrarian
Reform Act, that vindicated the rights of
agricultural workers in the country.
The signing of the document in 1959 by Fidel Castro
at La Plata Rebel Army general command in the
Sierra Maestra mountain range, in eastern
Cuba, had a special symbolism because
it took place on the date on which, 13
years earlier, peasant leader Niceto
Perez, was assassinated by the
hands of large landowners.
The law allowed that large estates belonging to local
and US landowners, were delivered to thousands of
rural workers, who, thus, became owners of plots
of land, and received other benefits... previously
denied to them, such as access to healthcare,
education and housing.
The Agrarian Reform Act was also an elementary
necessity --- for the economic take-off of the
country, which still had semi-feudal forms
of production, that hindered its
development.
Those facts also motivated the founding of the
National Association of Small Farmers (ANAP)
in 1961.
Upon congratulating the Cuban farmer sector on the
anniversary, National People’s Power Assembly
(Parliament) President, Esteban Lazo,
highlighted the importance of this
sector, in the nation’s efforts to
achieve food sovereignty, and
security, in a context marked
by the global crisis.
This year, the center-south Cuban province
of Cienfuegos hosts the central activities
for Farmers’ Day.
___________________________________________
Lebanon Elections, Preliminary
Results: Hezbollah, Amal
Sweep Shiite Seats
in Parliament
May 16th, 12 midday (al Manar)
Hezbollah and Amal Movement swept Shiite seats in
the Lebanese Parliament in Sunday’s vote, despite
heavy efforts by rivals, especially the Lebanese
Forces, to set a blow to the Shiite duo’s
popular base.
According to preliminary results obtained by the
electoral machines of both the Shiite duo and
their rivals, Hezbollah and Amal gained 27
seats out of 27 Shiite seats, compared to
26 seats in the last elections in 2018.
Head of Hezbollah’s Loyalty to Resistance MP
Mohammad Raad earned the highest number
of preferential votes in Lebanon with nearly
50,000 Lebanese citizens gave him their
votes in South III district.
Hezbollah’s candidate in Mount Lebanon I district
(Keserwan, Jbeil) Raed Berro has reportedly
gained the Shiite seat which was lost by
Hezbollah in 2018.
If confirmed by the Lebanese Interior Ministry’s
official results, Hezbollah and Amal are seen
as firm and strong powers in the country,
despite unprecedented campaigns by
the Lebanese Forces Party, which
raised ‘disarming Hezbollah’... as
one of its main electoral topics.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah’s allies suffered several
setbacks, with several seats were lost in
favour of independent hopefuls and
Saudi-backed Lebanese Forces
candidates.
The Free Patriotic Movement gained nearly 16
seats in the Parliament compared to 29 seats
(FPM with its Christian allies) in 2018.
Hezbollah’s allies Wiam Wahhab and Talal Arslan
lost their seats in Mount Lebanon IV district.
In north Lebanon, Faisal Karami, also lost
his seat, according to preliminary results.
For its part, the Saudi-backed Lebanese
Forces Party has reportedly won nearly
19 seats, compared to 15 seats
in 2018.
Source: Al-Manar English Website
__________________________________
Last days of campaigning for
elections begin in Colombia
by Alina Ramos Martin
May 16th, 9:59am (Prensa Latina)
The last week of electoral campaigning in view
of the presidential elections next May 29th in
Colombia, began with events of the seven
candidates who seek to attract voters
with their government proposals.
The favourite for victory in these elections, Gustavo
Petro, of the Historical Pact, began his activities
yesterday in the department of Cordoba, one of
the territories most affected by the armed
strike recently carried out by the criminal
group Clan del Golfo.
As in all the cities and towns where he has presented
his programmatic platform, he filled the square in
Lorica, and warned the community of vote
buying operations in favour of Federico
Gutiérrez, candidate of the right-wing
Team for Colombia, “candidate of
(Iván) Duque”.
Petro invited the inhabitants of Lorica to denounce
and send to the campaign, the videos and photos
of vote buying -- so that the legal team will be in
charge of making complaints to the authorities.
“This 29M we are going to overthrow the regime of
corruption. Let 29M be a day of freedom. If we
want peace, transparency in the State,
decency in politics, prosperity as an
objective, we have to overthrow
the regime of corruption”,
he exhorted.
He assured that, for this reason, change is needed
in Colombia, because it cannot continue like this,
that is... to fall into the abyss.
____________________________________
Renault Group’s Russian assets
transferred to state ownership
– Ministry of Industry and Trade
May 16th, 8:34am
https://en.news-front.info/
The Russian assets of Renault are being transferred
to Russian state ownership, the Ministry of Industry
and Trade said. The Moscow City Government will
own 100% of Renault Russia.
A 67.69% stake in AvtoVAZ will be transferred
to the Russian state represented by NAMI.
Service of Renault cars in Russia will
now also be provided by AvtoVAZ.
The concern will continue to produce the
entire line of Lada vehicles at its plants,
the ministry added.
________________________________________
Thousands stage popular
demonstrations across
globe to mark 74th
anniversary of
Nakba Day
May 15th, 11:38am (PressTV)
Protesters demonstrated outside the Storting building,
- which is the seat of the parliament of Norway - in the
capital Oslo on May 14th, 2022 as they marked the
74th anniversary of the Nakba or “Catastrophe”,
and paid homage to slain Palestinian journalist,
Shireen Abu Akleh --- who was fatally shot by
Israeli forces during a raid in the occupied
West Bank earlier this week.
Rallies and demonstrations have been held in cities
across the United States, Australia, and elsewhere
in the world to commemorate the 74th anniversary
of the Nakba (Catastrophe) Day, which marks the
1948 forced expulsion of nearly 800,000
Palestinians from their homes in
historical Palestine, as Israel
proclaimed its illegal
existence.
Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators rallied
in many US cities --- including New York, Boston,
Washington, Montreal and Dearborn, Michigan,
on Saturday --- to show solidarity with the
Palestinians and to call for an end to
Israeli attacks on the besieged
Gaza Strip the West Bank
and al Aqsa.
About two thousand people turned out in the Bay
Ridge area, of Brooklyn, in New York, chanting
“Free, free Palestine” and “From the river to
the sea, Palestine will be free.”
They waved Palestinian flags and held placards
that read “End Israeli Apartheid” and
“Freedom for Gaza.”
Many protesters wore black and white, and red and
white, keffiyeh scarves, while drivers sounded car
horns and motorcyclists revved their engines as
the sun beat down.
Several Jewish people also attended the rally, carrying
placards that read --- “Not in my name” and “Solidarity
with Palestine” as the protesters took over a street
in the area.
A few dozen police officers looked on, at the
peaceful protest, dubbed “Defend Palestine.”
“I'm here because I want a Palestinian life to equal an
Israeli life, and today, it doesn't,” 35-year-old Emraan
Khan, a corporate strategist from Manhattan said,
as he waved a Palestinian flag.
“Palestinians have the right to live freely and children
in Gaza should not be being killed,” Alison Zambrano,
a 20-year-old student, said.
Mashhour Ahmad, a 73-year-old Palestinian who has
lived in New York for 50 years, said, “I'm telling Mr.
Biden and his cabinet - to stop supporting the
killing. Support the victims, stop
the oppression.”
“The violence committed by the Israeli army recently
is genocide," he added --- raising a poster above his
head that said “Free Palestine, End the occupation.”
Separately, throngs of people gathered in Copley
Square in Boston, while hundreds rallied on the
Washington Monument grounds in the capitol.
Similar pro-Palestine rallies were held in
San Francisco and San Diego, as well.
Thousands in London marked the 74th anniversary
of ‘Nakba’, paying homage to the slain Palestinian
journalist. People also gathered in front of Broad
casting House, HQ of the BBC.
Elsewhere, in the Canadian city Montreal, several
thousand people called for “the liberation of
Palestine” during a mass demonstration.
The protesters also denounced "war crimes"
committed by Israeli troops in Gaza, and
carried placards condemning the Tel
Aviv regime --- for violating
international law.
Earlier, a caravan of cars sounded their horns and
drove with Palestinian flags outside the Israeli
consulate in the western part of Montreal.
Thousands attend pro-Palestinian
protests in Sydney and Melbourne.
Moreover, Thousands of people marched through
the streets of the Austrlian cities of Sydney and
Melbourne, in solidarity with the people living
in the occupied Palestinian territories.
In Sydney, men, women and children waved flags and
placards, as they chanted "Long live Palestine."
They carried pictures of the veteran Palestinian
journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, fatally shot by
Israeli troops on Wednesday as she was
covering an army raid on the Jenin
refugee camp in the northern part
of the occupied West Bank.
Meanwhile, in central Melbourne, protesters holding
Palestinian flags commemorated the Nakba Day.
People took part in a pro-Palestine rally in the city
of Auckland, and paid tribute to Abu Akleh.
Hamas statement on Nakba Day
The Palestinian Hamas resistance movement has
called on all Palestinians to mount resistance
and confront the Israeli occupiers... by all
available means.
“Comprehensive resistance, is our choice and path to
fight the occupiers. The occupying regime has never
had any ownership or authority, over our lands and
sacred sites,” the movement said in a statement.
“It is necessary to form a national front that is in line
with the aspirations of our nation. Freedom of the
prisoners, is our first priority,” the statement
also read.
Dozens of Israeli settlers, escorted by military forces,
stormed al-Aqsa Mosque compound.. in the occupied
Old City of al-Quds & performed Talmudic rituals, as
Palestinians commemorated the 74th anniversary
of the Nakba (Catastrophe) Day.
__________________________________
Brazil Lula’s candidacy
by anonimo
May 15th, 8:24am (Prensa Latina)
Gifted with a pragmatic character and the energy of
a 30 year old, as he always says.. former President,
LuizInácio Lula da Silva, 76, presented on May 7th
in Sao Paulo, his candidacy to Brazil’s presidency
...for the upcoming October 2nd elections.
Although there are still three months for the electoral
campaign’s official kick-off - August 16th - Lula, and
the ultra-right wing President, Jair Bolsonaro, are
already working - as fierce contenders - on the
search for the country’s main position.
The founder of the Workers’ Party (PT) said that he
wanted to return to power so that nobody dares
to challenge democracy again. And thus, he
highlighted, fascism will return to the
sewer of history, from where, it
shouldn’t have ever come out,
referring to the Bolsonaro
administration.
“There is no force as strong as that of a people who
knows how it can be happy again,” the former
labour leader assured, at the Expo Centre,
Norte hall, where he also presented the
movement Let’s Go Together for Brazil,
which gathers seven political parties,
unions and social groups: with the
common cause of defeating the
head of state... at the
polling stations.
Lula once again reiterated his aspiration “to lead
Brazil back to the future, along the roads of
sovereignty, development, social justice
and inclusion, democracy and respect
for the environment”.
Also in campaign mode, Bolsonaro, who is looking for
a 2nd term, recently.. tried to launch his candidacy
in Brasília, but his new political organization, the
Liberal Party, backed off, and coordinated a
moderate event, taking into account the
possible violations of electoral law.
As expected, the former Army captain proclaimed
what is expected to be his campaign slogan: “We
are involved in a struggle of good against evil”.
Among his weapons, besides blaming the Covid-19
pandemic for the economic disaster, he adopts
social benefit programs in an attempt to
increase his possibilities of winning,
but faces negative numbers and
a lack of credibility.
It is for sure, according to analysts, that an extremely
polarized campaign is foreseen, as a faithful picture
of class struggle in the South American giant.
Political experts say that the fight between Lula and
Bolsonaro could be the unfinished battle of the 2018
elections, after former judge Sérgio Moro convicted
the PT leader, without evidence, to pull him out of
the race for the Planalto Palace (the Executive
Power’s headquarters).
At that time, a court overturned the former president’s
candidacy because he was sentenced for alleged
acts of corruption; however, in March 2021, the
Supreme Court annulled all his sentences and
he recovered his political rights and the
possibility of running.
Lula, with 40.6 percent of valid votes, appears
with an evident advantage towards the next
presidential race, according to a new poll.
The study by the National Transportation
Confederation and the MDA Institute
shows Bolsonaro in second place,
with 32 percent.
According to the survey, the former president
would win in a second round (October 30th),
against the former paratrooper by 14 points
(50.8 percent against 36.8).
Brazil, the riches country in Latin America, will
have a fierce electoral fight, whose outcome
will possibly have repercussions beyond
its borders, several people say.
________________________________
Three Dead and One Wounded
in New Massacre in
Colombia
May 14th, 9:40pm (teleSUR)
According to human rights NGOs, it is the 39th
massacre, so far this year, in the midst of an
atmosphere of pre-electoral violence, that
continues unabated.
At least three young people were killed on Friday night,
in the municipality of Buga, Valle del Cauca, Colombia,
and a 16 year-old minor was wounded. Local police
sources... confirmed a new episode of armed
violence in the South American country.
According to local media, the police version reports
that the victims were hanging out... in the park of
one of the city's neighbourhoods, when armed
men attacked them at night. The deceased
were 18, 19 and 25 years of age.
Also, a 16 year-old minor was wounded in the
shooting, who underwent surgery and is in
a reserved prognosis.
Although the authorities are investigating whether
the multiple homicide was the result of retaliation,
the Institute for Development and Peace (Indepaz)
recalls that there was already an Early Warning
(EW) for the area.
In particular, Indepaz refers that the Ombudsman's
Office had issued a TA, number 19/2021, which
included the municipalities of El Cerrito,
Buga and Palmira and pointed out the
deficiencies of the state response in
terms of security --- especially in
comprehensive prevention
actions.
The previous March, another massacre took place in
a rural area of the same municipality. In this event,
three people were killed in a house in the
Chambimbal district. A year earlier, in
January 2021, the massacre of five
young people in a farm, caused
a commotion in Buga and
the rest of Valle.
The main hypotheses so far are, the settling of scores
and disputes over territorial control, due to drug
trafficking. However, Indepaz points out, that
the economy of municipalities like Buga, in
which both legal and illegal actors take
part, helps to understand, in part, how
the armed conflict and criminality
have fed the functioning of
this economy.
In view of what would be the 39th massacre so far this
year, Indepaz recalls: that the so-called Autodefensas
Gaitanistas de Colombia (AGC), local drug trafficking
structures and the Third Division of the Colombian
Army, among other armed groups, are active in
the area.
The climate of violence, with massacres and selective
assassinations of former combatants and peace
signatories has not stopped in Colombia, two
weeks before the first round of the
presidential elections.
_______________________________
Medvedev: Sanctions on