Logo: Rhondda Records logo 2

One Union


A song to inspire 
if not ''Revolution'' 
then... at least 
Action!

D'you Wanna Know the Diff'rence
Between Heaven and Hell?


 


A question for the majority who love
and aspire to build a better world 


London airport security staff 

to hold 33 more strikes

June 2nd, 7:46pm

(Izvestia.ru)

 

London's Heathrow Airport security staff are planning to

stage 33 new strikes --- in a row over a long-running pay 

dispute. This was reported on June 2 by the Daily Mail 

with reference to the message of the British trade 

union, Unite.

 

More than 2 thousand employees are expected to take part 

in the strikes. The protests are planned to be held
starting
 from June 17.

 

Journalists report that the reason for the strike 

is a long-standing dispute over wages.

 

This is not the first strike related to the operation of transport 

in London. On this day, The Guardian newspaper reported 

that in the UK, due to protests by rail workers of the
RMT 
union, 50% of routes were canceled. 

 

 

____________________________________________






Rail Services in Parts of England

 Grind to Halt in First of Three 

Train Strikes This Week

May 31st,  2:27pm (FNA)

 

 Rail services in parts of England ground to a halt with the

 first of three train strikes this week taking place as the 

long-running dispute between the unions and the 

government over pay, jobs and conditions...

 continues.

 

A 24-hour strike by about 12,000 members of the driver’s 

union Aslef is under way and a further day of industrial 

action is planned for Saturday, the day of the FA Cup

 final, The Guardian reported.

 

Rail operators have said services will be severely 

reduced and have urged passengers to plan 

their journey before travelling.

 

About 40% of trains will be running but there will be 

wide regional variations, with no services on 

networks including Avanti West Coast, 

Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, 

East Midlands Railway, Great 

Northern, Southern, South

eastern, Thameslink 

and Northern.

 

In addition, crew and station staff who are members 

of RMT... will take industrial action on Friday. 

Approximately half of normal services 

will run.

 

Mick Whelan, the general secretary of Aslef, said no

 negotiations aimed at resolving the bitter row were

 taking place, while the Department for Transport

 (DfT) said it had “facilitated a fair and

 reasonable pay offer”.

 

Joining a picket line at Newcastle station, Whelan said,

 “There are no negotiations, since they came out with 

yet another deal that contained all our ‘red lines’. If 

you spend months in a room, tell people things 

aren’t acceptable to you, then they produce
a
 deal that contains those things then
they 
are setting the deal up to fail."

 

“That is a deliberate act on behalf of both the government

 and the people that we’re dealing with. They do not,

 apparently, want a resolution,” Whelan added.

 

He added ---- “They seem to want (a) thousands of 

percent productivity (increase) for a 20% pay cut.”

 

The strikes come, after Aslef and RMT rejected a pay offer 

from the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents rail 

operators. Both unions have said the government is 

preventing the train companies from making an 

acceptable offer, which ministers deny.

 

UKHospitality has said the upcoming industrial 

action will cost the industry £132mln in sales.

 

Whelan said there is “no waning in enthusiasm” 

from train drivers --- to continue taking 

industrial action.

 

He added, “We are determined to get a resolution and 

remain in this for the long haul. It is time for the 

government to step back from interference --- 

which is preventing a deal --- drivers, in line 

with other workers, deserve a pay rise 

after four years without one, and 

inflation running over the last 

12 months, north of 10%.”

 

The RDG said fans wanting to travel from Manchester to 

London for the FA Cup final between Manchester City 

and Manchester United should not do so on 

Saturday, the day of the match.

 


In Wales & Scotland, where unions are not in dispute, 

only cross-border services will be affected.

 

Image: Dodon returned to the leadership of the opposition Party of Socialists







 

 

Bortnikov: The West is actively 

pushing Moldova - to become 

involved in Ukrainian conflict

June 1st, 11:50am

https://en.news-front.info/

 

The director of Russia’s Federal Security Service, Alexander 

Bortnikov, has said that the West is actively inciting Moldova

 to take part in the conflict in Ukraine. He said this, at a 

meeting of participants of the Council of the Heads of

 Security Agencies and Special Services of the CIS

 Member States, with President Alexander 

Lukashenko, of Belarus.

 

“Ukraine has become a springboard for war against Russia 

and subversive activities against Belarus. Westerners are

 actively pushing Moldova to take part in the Ukrainian 

conflict, inciting it to forcefully clean up
Transnistria,” 
TASS quoted him
as saying.

 

Earlier, Lukashenka said that the conflict

 in Ukraine had started long before 2014.

 

In mid-May, the head of the TMR state security ministry, 

Valeriy Gebos, said that Ukraine and Moldova were

 speculating on the topic of resolving the conflict

 in Transnistria --- by force.

 

 

____________________________




Zakharova responded
to 
Sandu's words...
about
 the lack of
respect
 from Russia


May 31st, 8:50pm


(RT.ru)


 


Moldovan President Maia Sandu's claims that there has 


never been any mutual respect between Moldova and 


Russia, are false, the Russian Foreign Ministry
spokes
woman, Maria Zakharova, said.


 


"Lies again," she wrote on the Telegram channel.


 


Zakharova stressed that Russia has always treated Moldova


 and its people with respect, with whom the Russian people


 have many historical ties. Russia also felt, that it was 


mutual, the diplomat noted.


 


"The current president of Moldova, who has a Romanian


passport and such pseudo-politicians as sent by her, 


have no mutual respect for the people of this 


wonderful country, from whom, she even 


took away their language," 


Zakharova said.


 


 


____________________________



Sandu claims - that there has never


 been any mutual respect between 


Russia and Moldova


May 31st, 6:43pm


(RT.ru)


 


Moldovan President Maia Sandu claims that there has 


never been any mutual respect between Russia and 


Moldova. According to her, Chisinau made every 


effort to do this. She said this on TVR Moldova.


 


"When I came to power, I said that we want pragmatic


 relations with Russia based on mutual respect, but 


we must admit that we have never had relations


 based on mutual respect, despite... all the 


efforts of Moldova," the politician said.


 


No cooperation agreement, including one on strategic


 cooperation ....or an agreement at the CIS level, 


allowed the Moldovan authorities "to receive 


a respectful attitude from Russia,"
RIA 
Novosti quotes her
as saying.


 


Sandu added that the government takes decisions on


 denouncing certain agreements with the CIS and 


on relations with Russia in the interests of
the 
Moldovan people.


 


Earlier, Maia Sandu said that partnership with the CIS


countries is not profitable for Moldova. She also 


called for Moldova to become a member of


the EU as soon as possible.


 


As Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted, the 


West considers Moldova -- to be the next Ukraine. 



Moscow stressed that Chisinau does not show


a reciprocal readiness for dialogue with 


Moscow, and the choice was made:
in 
favour of whipping up anti-


Russian hysteria.


 


In addition....  the Russian Foreign Ministry denied
Sandu's 
statements -- that the Russian side has a
plan to
 "destabilize the situation" in the republic.


 


 


______________________________________



 

About 60 thousand people took part 

in opposition rallies in Moldova

May 21st, 12:52pm

(RT.ru)

 

About 60 thousand people took part in anti-government

rallies - that took place in three cities of Moldova. This

was reported by the opposition Moldovan party "Shor".

 

"60 thousand people demanded today to hold a referendum 

on the external vector of Moldova," the release says.

 

Earlier it became known that at the entrance to Chisinau, 

there was a clash between participants of the pro-

government rally "European Moldova" ...and 

supporters of the opposition movement

 "Haiduki" --- arriving in the city.

 

 

_______________________________________



 Moldovan farmers have declared 

their readiness to start an

 indefinite protest on 

June 7th

May 17th, 7:43pm

(RT.ru)

 

The press service of the Power of Farmers Association said

 that Moldovan farmers -- have declared their readiness to

 start an indefinite protest from June 7, if the Moldovan 

government does not provide them with assistance 

and does not ban the import of Ukrainian grain.

 

According to RIA Novosti, the association noted --- that the 

Cabinet of Ministers in the framework of negotiations that

 began in February -- completely ignores the proposals of 

farmers. At the same time, many problems lead to the 

destruction of small and medium-sized farmers.

 

"We very much hope that this warning will be heeded and

urgent measures will be taken to save the agricultural

industry from collapse. Otherwise, we announce on 

June 7 mass incessant protests of farmers across 

the country with possible blocking of highways 

and a march of agricultural machinery to 

Chisinau," the statement reads.

 

Earlier, the Moldovan association "Power of Farmers" had

 already appealed to the authorities: to temporarily ban 

the import of wheat, corn, rapeseed and sunflower 

from Ukraine.

 

In turn, former Moldovan President Igor Dodon also pointed 

out the need to ban the import of Ukrainian grain, for the 

benefit of Moldovan farmers.

 

 

_________________________________




 


Head of the opposition Socialist Party
Dodon 
called on the current President
of Moldova,
 Sandu - to resign

May 4th, 3:41pm

https://en.news-front.info/

 

The head of the opposition Socialist Party, and former

 President of Moldova, Igor Dodon, demanded that the

 country’s current president, Maia Sandu, resign 

before July. This is reported by RIA Novosti.

 

He clarifies that this is necessary in order to hold 

early elections for the presidency, in the Autumn.

 

It is known that earlier the head of the opposition Socialist 

Party, proposed to merge the local elections scheduled for 

autumn together with early parliamentary and presidential 

elections. He argues, that there is nothing to be afraid of, 

if there is popular support.

 

“I would suggest that she resign in July, so that, together 

with the local elections in November, there will be joint 

presidential and local elections. If you are not afraid 

of the opinion of the people, you need to do so and 

prove that you are not afraid of anything and are 

confident in the support of the people. This is

 a kind of challenge, a call – resign before 

July”, the politician said.

 

 


Image: Large-scale anti-government rallies begin in Chisinau









 

 

Gagauzia allowed --- to hold a 

referendum on independence

May 27th, 1:50pm 

(Lenta.ru)

 

MP Dudoglo allowed holding a 

referendum on Gagauzia's

 independence

 

Gagauzia allows holding a referendum on independence 

if the central authorities of Moldova do not meet the

 requirements of the region. This proposal.... was 

made by the deputy of the People's Assembly

 of Gagauzia, Nikolay Dudoglo, RIA 

Novosti reports.

 

"The division of powers between Chisinau and Comrat (the

 administrative centre of Gagauzia) and the return of our 

powers, customs, law enforcement agencies, tax ---- 

this will allow us to continue to conduct a dialogue 

between the centre and Comrat. If our friends in 

Chisinau do not agree, we should appeal to the 

Gagauz people --- and hold a referendum on

 independence," Dudoglo stated, during a 

congress of deputies & representative 

authorities of the region.

 

According to him, this will allow "cooling

the ardour " of the Chisinau authorities.

 

On Saturday, May 27th, the congress participants adopted

a resolution --- demanding to fix the status of Gagauzia's

autonomy in the Moldovan constitution.  According to

the document, the central authorities of the country
---- 
must restore the activities of the regional

tax, statistical, environmental, and other
deconcentrated services, 
and bodies,
as well as state-owned enterprises 

in Gagauzia - within three months.

 

Earlier in May, it became known that the National Anti-

Corruption Centre (NCAC) of Moldova came with 

searches to the Central Election Commission

(CEC) of the autonomous territorial entity 

(ATO) Gagauzia after the election of the 

head of the autonomy. 

 

Earlier, the candidate from the opposition Shor party in

 Moldova, Eugenia Gutsul, won the largest number of 

votes in the election of the head of the Gagauz 

Autonomous Region.

 

 

_______________________________________________



 

Court of Appeals confirms victory of Sor

party candidate in Gagauzia election

May 22nd, 4:09pm (TASS) 

 

The Comrat Court of Appeals has certified the victory of 

Evghenia Gutul from the Sor opposition party in the 

gubernatorial runoff in Moldova’s Gagauz 

autonomy, at its meeting on Monday.

 

"To recognize as valid the mandate of Evghenia Gutul, the 

elected head of Gagauzia. The decision takes effect 

immediately after being passed," Judge Andrei 

Mironov, read out the ruling.

 

 The court's meeting looked into the Central Election

 Commission’s report about the results of the 

election on May 14th.

 

 

___________________________________________




 

 Opposition party to block
Moldova’s
 integration
with EU


May 2nd, 12:11pm (TASS)

 

The leader of the opposition Sor party pledged to

 call for suspending Moldova’s integration into
the European 
Union --- if its candidate,
Yevgenia Gutsul, won the election 

for head of the autonomous
region of Gagauzia.

 

"We, the Sor party, will demand and insist that any Moldovan

 integration into Europe be suspended, as it contravenes
the constitution," Ilan Sor told Rossiya-24 TV. 


The politician accused Moldovan authorities of ignoring the 

principle of neutrality, which is enshrined in the country’s 

fundamental law, as well as showing no respect
for 
those citizens who, he said, favored "an 

uncompromised neutrality --- and are 

against seeing Moldova dragged 

into any alliances."

 

Kiev and Chisinau would need to meet a number of

 requirements --- including the implementation of 

major reforms and resolving the Transnistrian 

issue, before EU accession negotiations 

could begin in earnest.

 







police start violent Moldova detentions

press the link above to watch

Police start to disperse rally

Image: Supporters of the Shor party gathered to demand leaders release


Russian Army to react in case of 

provocation in Transnistria 

– diplomat

May 27th, 7:11am (TASS)

 

Russian Armed Forces will undoubtedly respond in the case 

of Kiev’s provocation in Transnistria, and will protect the 

people of the region, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister 

Mikhail Galuzin, told TASS.

 

"No one should have any doubts ---- that the Russian Armed 

Forces will provide an adequate response to a provocation 

from the Kiev region, should one happen -- and will ensure 

protection of our compatriots, the Russian peacekeeping

 contingent, OGRF servicemen, and ammunition depots in

 Kolbasna in Transnistria. Any actions that pose a threat 

to their security, will be viewed, in accordance with

 international law, as an attack on the Russian 

Federation," the Deputy Foreign Minister

underscored.

 

According to Galuzin, Moscow has information... that 

Ukrainian forces are concentrating near Transnistria.

 

"The situation around this region.... is indeed, complicated; we 

are being guided by assessments of the regional leadership. 

So far, judging by statements made by Transnistria head

 Vadim Krasnoselsky, there is no direct threat of a

 military escalation," Galuzin added.

 

He pointed out that Russia is closely monitoring the situation 

on the Dniester and warns that "any attempts to destabilize
the
 situation --- will be futile."

 

"Considering the risky course of Ukrainian authorities

 towards escalation of the conflict in the interest of

 destructive plans of its Western masters, no 

scenario of events can be ruled out,"
the diplomat noted.

 

Galuzin pointed out that the Russian peacekeeping

 contingent has been deployed in Transnistria,

 in order to prevent such scenarios.

 

"The Kiev regime has repeatedly displayed its readiness 

to resort to the dirtiest and the most brutal forms of 

hostilities in order to achieve its goals. Its record 

includes the deployment of military vehicles in 

residential buildings & civilian infrastructure 

facilities, including schools, hospitals and 

kindergartens; using civilians as human 

shields; and terror attacks on Russian 

territory," Galuzin concluded.

 





 Soon everyone across Europe will be

singing this gently effective song!

It's telling the USA...


Amigo, Amigo, Ami - go home.


 

Image: Scholz’s biggest mistake is mocking Donbass genocide – Zakharova 20.05.2023 13:47 The official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Maria Zakharova, said that the biggest mistake of the Chancellor of the F














A German court has fined 

a Ukrainian woman 

for supporting a 

special operation

June 8th, 11:28am

https://en.news-front.info/

 

A pro-Russian activist in Germany has been sentenced to

 one month’s imprisonment or to pay a fine of EUR 900, 

Exxpress writes.

 

The accusation of the German court is as follows: the 

woman, born in Ukraine, “publicly called the special

 operation correct and approved of it”.

 

Here is what readers think about it:

 

Albert

 

What a lesson in democracy! Some people are allowed to hold

 solidarity concerts with broadcasting on TV, while others are 

blamed for speaking out at demonstrations.

 

Arkanum

 

If I were them... I would go through all the instances, as 

this verdict is outrageous and should not be approved.

 

Fred

 

In that case, all European governments should be 

condemned as well. And certainly the Americans.

 

 

 

_______________________________________________




 


Scholz says Biden..... has a 


good chance of re-election


June 6th, 1:17pm


https://en.news-front.info/


 


German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said US President Joe 


Biden has a good chance of re-election and praised 


the development of transatlantic cooperation 


under the current US leadership.


 


“I believe.... that President Biden has a good chance of re-


election,” Scholz said at the European Forum, organised


 by WDR television. At the same time, the chancellor 


stressed that Germany should be ready to 


cooperate with any US government.


 


“I believe that we have a very close transatlantic cooperation


 with the current US president. I think it should be very well 


understood in Germany that this is not something to take


 for granted, but a great fortune that we have come


 this far,” Scholz added.


 


 


_____________________________




German authorities mull... possible

 deliveries of fighter jets to Ukraine

June 5th, 3:21pm
https://en.news-front.info/

 

German authorities are mulling over possible deliveries of
fighter jets for Ukraine, German Defence Minister Boris
Pistorius told DW.

 

“We are, just now, in the phase of rethinking and checking

 what is possible and what we are willing and able to do,”

 he said, noting that Berlin needs another two weeks to

 make a final decision.

 

At the same time, the minister rejected the possibility of

 transferring the Taurus cruise missiles to Kiev, in the 

foreseeable future.

 

 

 

_________________________________________________________




In Germany, a forest fire broke out 

at a landfill with ammunition

June 3rd, 6:46pm 

(Lenta.ru)

 

In the state of Brandenburg in Germany, a forest fire 

broke out on the territory of a former military 

training ground ....where ammunition is 

located, reports ZDF TV channel.

 

The fire near Yuterbog town.. started on Wednesday,

May 31st, and has only intensified since then. The 

situation was aggravated by the increased wind 

on Saturday, as well as the lack of rain. 

 

But the main problem is caused by old ammunition in 

the ground ----- because of this, firefighters can not 

get to the fire sites due to the risk of explosions.

 In addition, the area of the former military 

training ground is very large.

 

Two firefighting planes have already been involved in

 extinguishing the fire. The fire engulfed about 

45 hectares of land. It is assumed that 

extinguishing it, may take
several 
more days.

 

In May, a landfill caught fire in Vladivostok for 

the third time since the beginning of 2023.

 

 

_________________________________



Panic in Germany: former 

Bundeswehr pilots train 

Chinese soldiers.

June 3rd, 11:45am

https://en.news-front.info/

 

Three German pilots.. have gone to China and become 

private instructors at Beijing-based Lode Technology

Ltd, ZDF reports. The pilots know all the secrets of 

NATO flight tactics and the Chinese man, Su Bin, 

convicted in the US for espionage, 

is closely associated with the 

company that hired them.

 

German pilots, have tried to call and ask uncomfortable 

questions. Two of them simply hung up, while the third 

said he was not doing anything illegal and did not 

know any Soo Bin. In fact, the Bundeswehr 

allowed him to train pilots abroad 

back in 2013.

 

The German defence ministry fears that retired pilots may

 give away European and NATO military secrets to the

 Chinese. German intelligence agencies have

 launched an investigation.. to find out 

details about former Bundeswehr 

officers’ activities in China.

 

 

________________________________




The political scientist pointed out: the 


awareness of German residents --- of 


the ruinous nature of Scholz's policy


June 3rd, 11:08am


(Izvestia.ru)


 


There is hope that in Germany, more and more citizens 


are aware of the harm that the policy of the head of 


the government of the country Olaf Scholz, brings 


to them. This opinion was expressed on June 3


 to Izvestia, by political analyst Yuri Svetov.


 


On the eve of the festival of the Social Democratic Party of 


Germany (SPD) in Falkens, the crowd booed Scholz. About 


100 festival-goers shouted "warmonger" and "liar"at the


 chancellor... for several minutes.


 


"There is a certain hope that there are more and more people


in Germany, who understand the harmfulness of Scholz's


policy for themselves," Svetov commented, on the 


reaction of the Germans.


 


However, he noted that more than 40% of Germans support


 continued assistance to the Kiev regime, while 20% 


consider it insufficient.


 


"Only a third of Germans understand the ruinous nature of


 Scholz's policy towards Ukraine. These... are important 


signals that the party of the Chancellor and the party 


of the German Foreign Minister Annalena Burbok 


may be defeated in the next elections in 


Germany," Svetov admitted.


 


He also recalled Scholz's plans to talk with the Russian


leader. However, Moscow is unlikely to negotiate, the


expert noted, since "there will be a conversation 


about nothing."


 


At the same time, the Kiev regime reports that German


 Leopard tanks are already close to the contact line, 


and Ukraine continues to receive German 


weapons, Svetov said.


 


German politicians, declaring the continuation of the supply


 of ammunition, are dependent, not so much on their own


 voters, as on "the authorities overseas," the political 


scientist concluded.


 


Germany, like most Western countries, increased its military


 support for Kiev after Russia launched a special operation.


 Germany has already supplied Ukraine with 18 Leopard 


2A6 tanks and 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles.


 


Western countries have stepped up military and financial 


support for Kiev --- amid Russia's special operation to 


protect the Donbas, which was decided, after the 


situation in the region worsened --- due to 


shelling by the Ukrainian military.


 


 


_____________________________________





Germany to buy 66 armoured

 personnel carriers for the 

Ukrainian army

June 2nd, 4:04pm

(Izvestia.ru)

 

The German government will purchase 66 wheeled 

armoured personnel carriers (APCs) and 110 

Leopard tanks for the Ukrainian army. 

Information about this is available 

on the website of the German 

government.

 

The German government also intends to supply 

Ukraine with 64 multi-purpose vehicles.

 

The exact delivery time and cost of the batch are not 

disclosed "for security reasons," the website says.

 

"Funding for the country's security capacity building 

initiative will amount to €5.4 billion for 2023 and 

additional authorizations for commitments
in 
subsequent years, in the amount of 

€10.5 billion. These funds.. should 

be directed primarily to military 

assistance to Ukraine," the 

report says.

 

At the same time, these funds will be used to replenish 

the reserves of the Federal Armed Forces for supplies

 to Ukraine, as well as for Germany's contributions to

 the European Peace Fund, from which, expenses 

related to providing military assistance to 

Ukraine.... can be reimbursed.

 

 

_________________________________




German lawmaker - slams 


West’s unilateral support, 


recognition of Kosovo


 ‘mistake’


June 2nd, 1:30pm (TASS) 


 


The West made a mistake by recognizing the independence


 of self-declared Kosovo and providing unilateral support to


 the Pristina authorities, Petr Bystron, a Bundestag 


member for the Alternative for Germany 


party said.


 


"The Alternative for Germany is extremely concerned about 


the escalation of violence [in northern Kosovo]. Despite the


 impressive military presence of the world community, the


 conflict between Kosovo Albanians and Serbs has not


 been resolved... in the past 24 years. Recognizing 


Kosovo was a mistake --- as well as the West’s 


unilateral support for Pristina," the German 


lawmaker told the Kosovo Online 


news outlet.


 


Meanwhile, he criticized the policy and rhetoric of Kosovo


 Prime Minister, Albin Kurti. According to Bystron, "Kurti's


 attempt to demonize Serbs and present them as vassals


 of Russia and Albanians in Kosovo as victims is 


inappropriate." 


 


"At the same time, this is consistent with the usual narrative


 of countries dominated by the US: anyone who gets in the 


way of American interests is immediately discredited as 


an agent of Moscow. The ethnocentric chauvinism 


preached by Kurti should be unacceptable in the 


European political arena, and what’s more 


[unacceptable] is the support of any 


European government," the 


politician pointed out.


 


Speaking about the situation in northern Kosovo, where the


 local Serbian population... continues to protest Pristina's 


actions, Bystron said that he supported the protesters' 


message, but urged them to maintain restraint. 


 


"I advise them to show restraint at the protests and at the


 same time not to retreat from political demands. They


 [Kosovo Serbs] --- are right. The NATO bombing of 


Yugoslavia was unjust. The forcible separation 


of the province of Kosovo from the territory of 


Yugoslavia was unjust. What is created out 


of injustice cannot endure. Be consistent.


Kosovo is Serbia," the lawmaker said.


 


Commenting on the negotiation process around Kosovo, 


Bystron said that this has shined a spotlight on the
EU’s 
incompetence.

"In principle...  dialogue is always possible. 
But
the EU-mediated dialogue in Kosovo --- can be 


considered a failure because Pristina neither 


respected nor implemented, the agreements 


reached. Once again... the EU has shown its 


incompetence. It is obvious - that the Serbs


want the Community of Serb Municipalities


 as a kind of guarantor of their rights --- 


without which --- it will be difficult to


 negotiate. The EU must find a new 


strategy and, if necessary, resort 


to sanctions.  You can't just look 


the other way when Pristina has 


refused for ten years to honour 


the agreements reached, as in


 the case of the Kosovo Pact,"


 the deputy pointed out.


 


Situation in northern Kosovo


 


The situation in the Leposavic, Zubin Potok, and Zvecan


 municipalities in northern Kosovo and Metohija 


escalated on May 26, after Kosovo law 


enforcement officers tried to seize


 local administrative buildings in a 


bid to enable the new mayors of 


these municipalities, who were


 elected -- despite nearly the 


entire Serbian population 


boycotting the elections 


-- to take office.


 


 On May 29, KFOR cordoned off the administrative


 buildings, clashing with Serbian protesters.


 


According to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, 52 Serbs


 sought medical assistance in Kosovska Mitrovica. Three 


of them were badly wounded. KFOR said that 40 of its 


troops - servicemen from the Italian and Hungarian 


contingents - were wounded.


 


Serbian Defense Minister Milos Vucevic said on Monday that


 the Serbian army had been put on high alert following the


 escalation in Kosovo and Metohija and that army units 


had been deployed along the administrative border


 with Kosovo.


 


 


_______________________________________________


 


 


 


German official says Bundeswehr


defense posture diminished after


 arms aid largesse... to Kiev


June 2nd, 1:27pm (TASS) 


 


Germany’s armed forces would be capable of defending NATO


 if the alliance were attacked, but the Bundeswehr’s defense 


posture has been seriously diminished by the flow of 


military equipment supplies going to Ukraine, 


Bundeswehr Parliamentary Commissioner 


Eva Hoegl said in an interview posted 


on t-online.de on Friday.


 


"The Bundeswehr does not have full operational readiness


 because of major gaps due to supplies going to Ukraine. 


And because the Bundeswehr has very little materiel 


and too few personnel," she said, adding that the 


German armed forces could, nevertheless, still 


"provide for the defense of the North 


Atlantic Alliance."


 


Hoegl replied in the affirmative to a question about whether


 the German armed forces had been weakened... by every 


new consignment of military supplies going east to the


 Kiev regime. "This is inevitably so. They have been


 economizing on the Bundeswehr for years, and 


now they have to work simultaneously on 


many fronts. The Bundeswehr has now


reached the limit of its capabilities," 


Hoegl lamented. 


 


The commissioner noted, however, that she had been 


hearing the same "Ukraine is a priority" mantra, 


even in conversations with military staff.


 


Meanwhile, the German armed forces "could still be saved"


 if appropriations earmarked for modernization initiatives


 were used even more intensively, she maintained.


 


In late February 2022, German lawmakers voted to allocate


 100 billion euros for purchasing new gear, munitions and


 equipment, as well as for developing new systems. 


Hoegl has repeatedly said, however, that the 


Bundeswehr’s material and technical base 


has not seen any improvement in 


recent months.


 


Earlier, the German Defense Ministry unveiled its latest


 military aid package for Kiev, worth 2.7 billion euros


 and including 20 Marder infantry combat vehicles,


 30 Leopard 1A5 tanks, 200 reconnaissance 


drones, four IRIS-T SLM anti-aircraft 


systems, and logistical vehicles, 


as well as ammunition. 


 


The list also includes 18 self-propelled 


howitzers and 100 armoured 


fighting vehicles.


 


 


_________________________________



Survey: nearly 2/3 of Germans 


oppose fighter jet deliveries 


to Ukraine


June 2nd, 8:43am


https://en.news-front.info/


 


More than 64 per cent of Germans oppose sending


 fighter jets to Ukraine. This - is according to the 


Infratest dimap poll for ARD television channel.


 


Almost 2/3 of the German population is against sending


German fighter jets to Ukraine. Only 28% were in 


favour of supplying military aircraft, while 8% 


had no clear position on this issue.


 


Remarkably, compared with February... the number of 


supporters of sending German fighter jets to Ukraine


remained the same. However -- the percentage of 


people protesting against the delivery of fighter


jets to the Kiev regime, has increased by 5%.


 


The greatest controversy connected with the delivery of


fighter jets to Ukraine is in the minds of supporters of 


“the Green Party”: 48% are against and 43% are not.



The share of opponents of all other parliamentary 


parties that are against sending German planes 


to the Kiev regime, exceeds 50%, with the


 right-wing “Alternative for Germany” 


party having almost 90% of 


opponents of this idea.


 


Military support for Ukraine is seen by 43 per cent of


respondents, as adequate, 37 per cent believe it has 


gone beyond what is allowed, and 14 per cent say it


is insufficient. In the former GDR territory, over half


of inhabitants say that the assistance provided by 


the FRG to the Kiev regime... has gone beyond all


reasonable limits.


 


In addition, 55% of respondents claim that little diplomatic


 effort has been made to end the conflict in Ukraine, 30% 


considered the current efforts as satisfactory and 6%


 said they were excessive. As well, 42% of Germans 


believe... that the sanctions against the Russian 


Federation are insufficient, 29% consider them


 adequate and 20% point out that the Western


 sanctions policy --- has gone too far. 


 


The poll was conducted on 30-31 May, 


with 1,302 eligible voters taking part.


 


 










Image: Over a Million Demonstrate in France ---- to Say ‘No’ to Macron’s Pension Reform
















































 

Peskov called France an active 

participant in the conflict 

in Ukraine

June 3rd, 2:51pm

(Izvestia.ru)

 

France can hardly be included in those countries that 

remain neutral on the situation in Ukraine and claim 

to be moderators of the conflict. This - was stated 

on June 3 by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov 

- commenting on Western media reports that 

French leader Emmanuel Macron, came up 

with the idea of holding a peace summit 

on Ukraine in Paris.

 

At the same time, Peskov recalled the position 

of Russian President Vladimir Putin on Ukraine.

 

"President Putin was, is and will be, open to any 

contacts in order to achieve the solution of our 

tasks by other means than a special military 

operation. But the same Western countries 

at the moment, do not leave us any other 

way out," the Kremlin representative 

stressed in the ''Moscow. Kremlin. 

Putin" programme

 

As Peskov noted, France is an active 

participant in the Ukrainian conflict.

 

"It is hardly possible to attribute France to neutral countries

 that can claim the role of moderator, well, say, like Brazil, 

like China, like African countries, like the Vatican. 

France cannot do this, because it is already a 

de facto active participant in the conflict - 

and on the part of Ukraine. And the 

French should be aware of this," 

Peskov said.

 

As he noted, now the Ukrainian conflict has really become

 broader ---- as the collective West has begun to wage a

 combined war against Russia. And, in this case, it is 

hopeless to engage in a solution to the conflict
on 
the part of Western countries. Peskov
also 
believes that it is necessary to
wait for 
any explanations from
the French 
leader himself.

 

On June 2, Russian presidential press Secretary Dmitry

 Peskov, noted that Russia sees no prerequisites for 

starting a dialogue on the conflict issue - since 

Western countries do not take into account 

the goals of the Russian Federation.

 

The special operation to protect the Donbass, which Russian

 President Vladimir Putin announced on February 24, 2022, 

continues. The decision to hold it was made against the

 background of the aggravation of the situation in the 

region --- due to shelling by the Ukrainian military.


















































Image: Dollar round-a-bout an illusion




















Saudis snub US push on Tel Aviv ties, 

oil prices, Syria, during Blinken’s 

high-profile visit

June 8th, 7:33pm

(PressTV)

 

Saudi officials have snubbed US Secretary of State’s latest 

push for the Kingdom’s normalization of relations with the 

Israeli regime and his bid to win further concessions on 

oil prices and Riyadh’s recent resumption of ties with

 Syria and Iran, during his high-profile visit to 

Saudi Arabia.

 

Speaking in a news conference alongside Saudi Foreign

 Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in Riyadh on

 Thursday, the visiting Antony Blinken reiterated that

 Washington will continue to play an integral role in

 expanding normalization between the Tel Aviv

 regime and Saudi Arabia.

 

Blinken, who was in the kingdom.... as part of a US push to 

defuse rows that have touched on oil prices, and Riyadh's

 opening to Iran, further insisted that normalizing relations

 between Israeli regime and its neighbours, is a priority 

for Washington.

 

The Saudi foreign minister, however, rebuffed his US

 counterpart, saying that the kingdom believes: 

“normalization of ties with Israel will have 

limited benefit --- without a pathway to 

peace for the Palestinians.”

 

“The Palestinian issue was and remains the central issue for 

Arab countries, and it is at the top of the kingdom’s priorities,”

 Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had also

 underlined this, during the Arab League summit in 

Jeddah, on May 19.

 

“We will not delay in providing assistance to the Palestinian 

people in recovering their lands, restoring their legitimate

 rights.... and establishing an independent state on the 

1967 borders with East al-Quds as its capital,” he

 further noted, at the time.

 

A foreign diplomatic source says there has been no progress

 in the normalization of diplomatic ties between the Tel Aviv

 regime and Saudi Arabia, as bin Salman has rejected a

 request from Netanyahu to meet.

 

Blinken also reiterated on Thursday that Washington will not

 normalize relations with Syria and does not support other 

nation’s normalization of ties with the government of

 President Bashar al-Assad.

 

For his part, Prince Faisal defended the landmark decision to

 lift Syria's Arab League suspension, which came shortly 

after the start of the country's foreign-sponsored 

conflict.... 12 years ago.

 

“Syria made very clear commitments to address concerns of

 the international community,” the chief Saudi diplomat said.

 

“We have differences of opinion but we're working on finding 

a mechanism for us to be able to work together,” the Saudi 

foreign minister also pointed out, during the press 

conference with the US secretary of state.

 

The Saudi foreign minister also highlighted that China and

 Saudi Arabia are close and strategic allies, and have 

been increasing cooperation in the energy and 

financial sectors, and that “cooperation
is 
likely to grow.”

 

Saudi ties with US, China
not a ‘Zero-sum game’

 

He said that Saudi Arabia’s ties with the United 

States and China --- are not a “zero-sum game.”

 

“I don't ascribe to this zero-sum game,” Prince Faisal 

said in Riyadh. “We are all capable of having 

multiple partnerships and multiple 

engagements, and the US does

 the same, in many instances.

 

“So I'm not caught up in this really negative view of this.

 I think we can actually build a partnership that crosses

 these borders,” the top Saudi diplomat said.

 

Riyadh’s strengthening its commercial and security ties 

with Beijing comes.... as US influence wanes in the 

Middle East region.

 

Blinken was the second top US official to visit Saudi Arabia 

in less than a month, following a May 7 trip by White House 

national security adviser Jake Sullivan.

 

However, Blinken's meetings with bin Salman and Persian 

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) foreign ministers were

 relegated to the inside pages of Al-Watan and Okaz, 

the two major newspapers in Saudi Arabia.

 

Blinken and the crown prince had "open, candid" talks, for 

an hour and 40 minutes, a US official said, covering topics

 including the conflict in neighboring Yemen, the war in

 Sudan, Israel, and human rights.

 

Riyadh has also leveraged its growing relationships with

 Russia and China as the Biden administration has 

pushed back against some Saudi demands --- 

including lifting restrictions on arms sales ---

and help with sensitive high-tech industries.

 

Riyadh has clashed repeatedly with US President Joe Biden 

on its supply of crude oil to global markets, its willingness

 to partner with Russia in OPEC+ and its decision to 

restore full diplomatic relations with Iran, in a
deal 
brokered by China.




 

_________________________________________________
 


 


 


 


Lula Resumes Free, Low-Cost


 Medicine Program in Brazil


June 8th, 6pm (teleSUR)


 


No one else will die in Brazil "with a prescription on the table


 but no money to buy medicines," the Leftist president vowed.


 


On Wednesday, Brazilian President Lula da Silva launched a 


new version of the government program People's Pharmacy, 


which offers free or reduced-price medicines.


 


Noting that many Brazilians have died with a prescription on 


the table but no money to buy medicines, he relaunched 


the program, saying: "This will no longer happen in 


this country."


 


"The People's Pharmacy is coming back with more medicines


 for the entire population, as well as with even more strength


 and articulation with the More Doctors and the Family Bag


 programs," Lula stressed.


 


The new People's Pharmacy will make it possible to obtain 40


 medicines free of charge. Along with the free category, there


 is a list of medicines with a discount of up to 90 percent 


compared to prices in commercial pharmacies.


 


The tweet reads, "The People's Pharmacy is back! After


 spending the last few years in decline, the program 


that provides medicines to those who need it most


 is back! The new People's Pharmacy, launched 


on Wednesday, by President Lula, brings
many
 news items. Learn more."


 


The program was created in 2004 during Lula da Silva's first 


presidential term, but its scope was considerably reduced


 during the administration of far-right President


 Jair Bolsonaro.


 


"The lives of Brazilian men and women who depend on the 


federal program the People's Pharmacy will be at risk
from
 2023," said the Rede Brasil Atual newspaper -
on 
September 16, 2022, when Bolsonaro cut 60% 


of the budget allocated for that program.


 


"This will deprive the sick and poor of access to 13 types 


of medicines for diseases such as diabetes, asthma
and 
hypertension, among others," it added
at that time.


 


 



______________________________________


 


 


 


Colombia-ELN's Third Cycle of 


Peace Negotiations Continue


June 8th, 5:11pm


 (teleSUR)


 


During negotiations, the ELN has called for a "national, 


bilateral ceasefire," which should include "parastatal 


forces and criminal groups."


 


On Thursday, the Cuban authorities announced the 


postponement of the closing session of the third 


cycle of negotiations... between the Colombian 


government and the guerrillas of the National 


Liberation Army (ELN), which continues to 


take place in Havana.


 


"We - hopefully - accompany five weeks of hard work 


between the parties. There is a firm path towards 


peace," said Eugenio Martinez, the Cuban 


Foreign Ministry's Latin America director.


 


This cycle of talks began in the first week of May and will


 conclude with a closing ceremony to which Colombian


 President Gustavo Petro, is expected to attend. The 


date of this ceremony has not yet been specified


 but it is expected to be soon.


 


"I am going to Cuba for something that can be very important 


for the Colombian history. I am going to sign a paper that can 


mean the beginning - without retreat - of an era of peace,"


 he said


 


Given that this is the first time that Petro will participate in a 


negotiation round, the press has expectations of the long-


awaited announcement of the bilateral ceasefire.


 


During negotiations, the ELN has called for a "national, 


bilateral ceasefire," which should include "parastatal 


forces and criminal groups." This ceasefire would be


 preliminary because the final one would be


 achieved only with the final agreement.


 


For its part, the Colombian government considers that the 


ceasefire should have a limited geographical limitation 


in order to be verifiable.


 


It should also cover hostilities and harm against the 


civilian population such as threats, confinement,


 forced displacement, and the recruitment 


of minors.


 


The peace talks began in November 2022 in Caracas, 


where the parties agreed to promote humanitarian


 relief in some of the regions hardest hit by the 


armed conflict.


 


The second cycle of talks, held between February and March


 in Mexico City, concluded with the government's recognition 


of the ELN's political status as a "rebel armed organization."


 


 


______________________________________


 


 


 


FMLN Criticizes Bukele's 


''Electoral Reforms''
in 
El Salvador


June 8th, 2:40pm 


(teleSUR)


 


"This reform is practically a dirty trick whereby the


 government changes the rules of the game when


 they don't benefit from it,” FMLN lawmaker
Guevara, 
pointed out.


 


The Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN)


 denounced that the recently approved electoral 


reforms are designed to keep the National 


Assembly under the control of 


Salvadorian President Nayib 


Bukele's New Ideas party.


 


In the early hours of Wednesday, the pro-government 


Assembly... approved the reduction in the number of 


legislators from 84 to 60 as of the next legislature, 


which will be elected in 2024.


 


The new norm "eliminates legislators by residue, leaving 


only legislators assigned by number of votes," Bukele 


said a few hours later when signing the decree that 


would allow the reform to be published in the 


official registry.


 


"With this reform, political participation... is no longer plural.


 The Legislative Assembly would be made up of only three


 or four parties, which eliminates the possibility of 


minority representation,” the head of the FMLN 


legislative caucus, Jaime Guevara said.


 


“By reducing to only two lawmaker per department, the


 representation of the social sectors is also reduced 


and the official party is favored. This reform is 


practically a dirty trick whereby the govern


ment changes the rules of the game when 


they don't benefit from it,” he added.


 


For decades, El Salvador has defined the number of 


legislators through the Hare formula, which divided


 the votes cast in a constituency among the seats 


contested there.


 


This quotient was then used to award each party as many


 seats as times.. it reached that quotient with its votes. If 


there were seats to be assigned after a first distribution


 of seats, the electoral authorities assigned seats


 considering the parties that had the 


largest residuals.


 


In the 2024 elections, El Salvador will use the D'Hondt


 system, which distributes the number of seats in 


proportion to the number of votes obtained by


 each party. This means that the parties that 


do not reach a minimum percentage of 


ballots ---- are discarded for the 


distribution of seats.


 


 


_______________________________________




Colombia’s President to attend

 Peace Dialogue Table 

at Havana

by Oraily Madruga Rios

June 8th, 3:02pm

(Prensa Latina) 

 

Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Thursday confirmed

 to attend the closing of the third cycle of the Peace 

Dialogue Table between his Government and
the 
ELN, in Havana.

 

Petro unfolded such information yesterday during a massive

 demonstration in support of his Government, whose main

 axis is the Total Peace policy.

 

On Thursday, the Peace Dialogue Table between the 

Government and the National Liberation Army (ELN), 

requested President Petro and the ELN’s first 

commander, Antonio Garcia, an extra day 

to hold the closing encounter of the 

third cycle of talks.

 

The request is aimed at finalizing details of the texts of 

the Cuba Agreements and their respective protocols, 

according to a communiqué issued by the sides.

 

On May 2, the third cycle of talks between the Colombian

 Government and the ELN began in Cuba, with the full

 disposition to achieve a ceasefire and the 

participation of society. 

 

The first one took place in Caracas, Venezuela; 

and the second one was held in Mexico.

 

 

___________________________________________

 

 


Russia receives more than 20 

applications for supply of 

energy resources — 

Deputy PM

June 8th, 3pm (TASS)

 

 Russia sees great potential for expanding the geography of

 its oil and gas exports; last year alone, it received over 20 

applications from various countries for the supply of oil, 

petroleum products and liquefied natural gas (LNG). 

Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation 

Alexander Novak stated this in an article for 

the Energy Policy magazine.

 

"During the past year, more than 20 applications were

received from various countries --- primarily Asian 

ones --- for the supply of oil, oil products and 

LNG. That is, there is a significant potential 

for expanding the geography of exports," 

he said.

 

Novak stressed that Asia will be the main consumer of energy 

resources in the next thirty years, and Russia has every

 chance to expand cooperation with the countries of 

the region.

 

"Over the next 30 years, at least, the Asia-Pacific market will

 become the main consumer of energy resources in the 

world, most of which will come from traditional 

energy sources," the Deputy Prime 

Minister believes.

 

According to Novak, a significant part of the calculations 

for the supply of energy resources now takes place in

 rubles, yuan and rupees.

 

"To strengthen the country's financial sovereignty, an

 accelerated transition to settlements in national 

currencies is of particular importance. Today, a 

significant part of settlements is carried out 

in rubles, yuan and rupees," he said.

 

The number of states that prefer national currencies is

 growing. "We see an increasing number of countries 

that are switching to settlements in national 

currencies with their partners," the
Deputy
 Prime Minister stated.

 

Novak noted that already in May last year, oil supplies from 

Russia to Asian countries for the first time exceeded the

 volumes sent to Europe. In general, according to the 

results of 2022.... oil exports to friendly countries 

from the Russian Federation.. increased by 76%,

 oil products - by 20%, gas - by 8% year-on-year. 

 

Last year, almost 40 million tons of oil and oil products were

 redirected from western markets to eastern ones and this

 year, according to the expectations of the Deputy Prime

 Minister, of 223 million tons of oil and oil products that 

were exported to the west.... only 87 million tons will 

remain, which is 40%.


 

 

___________________________________________



Cuba makes a serious political 
commitment with the EEU


by Oraily Madruga Rios


June 8th, 2:58pm


 (Prensa Latina) 


 


Cuba made a serious and responsible political commitment 


to the development of economic, trade, financial and 


cooperation ties with the Eurasian Economic Union 


(EEU), Prime Minister, Manuel Marrero, on 


Thursday, pointed out.


 


The PM on Thursday spoke at the plenary session of the


 Intergovernmental Council of the EEU, and conveyed 


warm and grateful greetings on behalf of the Cuban 


people and Government to the organization, which 


the country joined as an observer on December 


11, 2020.


 


The strengths of each of our nations.. have enormous 


potential in joint projects linked to industry, health,


 biotechnology, tourism, education, the digital 


economy, e-commerce, and energy, among
other 
areas of common interest, the
PM argued.


 


Marrero also stressed that, with a view to improving the


health and welfare of the peoples of the EEU, Cuba 


proposes to create a multinational alliance in the 


biopharmaceutical sector --- to achieve 


sovereignty in the production of 


vaccines and drugs.


 


He further stated.... that his country’s purpose is to boost


 a UEE industrial park in the Mariel Special Development 


Zone, in Cuba, to meet productive linkages leading to 


the inter-regional integration, to which we aspire, in 


the context of a unipolar world, he concluded.


 


 


________________________________________________




 

Hungary, Greece block Brussels’ 

11th package of sanctions 

against Russia
Belgian TV

June 8th, 11:26am (TASS)

 

Greece and Hungary have moved to block the latest draft of 

Brussels’ 11th package of sanctions against Russia.... at a 

meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives 

of the EU, Belgium’s RTBF TV reported.

 

Budapest and Athens are demanding that a number 

of companies be removed from the list of those 

supporting Russia's efforts to bypass 

Western sanctions.

 

However, according to the TV channel, the EU countries have

 no systemic objections to the latest round of sanctions put

 forward by the European Commission (EC).

 

Earlier, the European edition of US newspaper Politico

 reported, citing sources, said that the discussion of 

sanctions was postponed for a week until June 14.

 

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU

 Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell repeatedly announced in

 May.. that the 11th package of sanctions would focus on

 tightening sanctions enforcement mechanisms as part 

of a campaign to stymie Russia's efforts to break the

 sanctions blockade. According to the EU officials, 

sanctions should be imposed on companies from

 third countries that re-export sanctioned goods 

to Russia.

 

In late May, a number of European media and diplomatic

 sources reported that the EC’s initial draft set of 

sanctions had been rejected and sent back for 

revision by the EU member countries, which 

fear that such measures will only serve to 

isolate the EU in the world.

 

On Thursday, Politico also quoted Jim O'Brien, head of the 

US State Department Office of Sanctions Coordination, 

who stated that shipments of microchips and key 

electronic components to Russia have already 

returned to the level seen before the start of

 the special military operation in Ukraine, 

despite Western efforts to block them 

via sanctions. The newspaper noted 

that Russia is improving its ability 

to counter Western sanctions.

 

 

___________________________________




Reuters: signs of the world’s 

de-dollarisation have 

become clear

June 5th, 4:47pm

https://en.news-front.info/

 

The global economy is showing signs of de-dollarisation, 

according to Mira Chandan and Octavia Popescu, 

strategists at JPMorgan, the largest US bank. 

This is reported by Reuters.

 

The impact of a sharp rise in US interest rates and anti-

Russian sanctions pushing Moscow out of the global 

banking system are forcing the BRICS countries to 

challenge dollar hegemony, Reuters writes.

 

Experts at JPMorgan.. said a de-dollarisation in foreign

exchange reserves is evident. The US bank published

a report on Monday, estimating that the US share of 

global exports, has now fallen to a record low of 

9 per cent, while China is at a record high.. of 

13 per cent.

 

“The dollar’s share of global central bank foreign 

exchange reserves has also fallen, to a record 

low of 58%,” experts said.

 

Recall that former congressman Ron Paul earlier 

claimed that Russian Federation, together with 

BRICS, had dealt a crushing blow --- to the 

global hegemony of the US currency.

 

 

___________________________________________

 

 

 

Polish agriculture minister criticises 

Ukraine’s position on grain imports

 – RMF24

June 5th, 10:53am

https://en.news-front.info/ 

 

The head of the Ukrainian Agricultural Policy Ministry, Mykola

 Solskyy, has been criticized by Polish Agriculture Minister

 Robert Telus for calling on the European Union to lift the 

ban on imports of Ukrainian agricultural products. This 

was reported by RIA Novosti, citing RMF24.

 

He criticized the Ukrainian Agricultural Policy Minister for 

calling on the EU to lift the ban on imports of Ukrainian

 agricultural products. At the same time, Solskyy said 

earlier that the possible extension of the ban was 

“the worst possible solution”, which would 

subsequently provoke “a weakening
of 
unity in Europe”.

 

The Polish minister of agriculture claims that the Kiev regime

 does not understand Poland’s position on imports and called 

the statement of his Ukrainian counterpart “far-reaching”. 

He noted that such actions by Kiev are detrimental 

to Ukrainians.

 

“I don’t quite understand why this is happening. I suspect that

 there are certain forces in Ukraine who decide to take these 

kinds of actions, which I do not agree with and which harm

 Ukrainians,” he said.

 

The politician believes that driving a wedge between Kiev

 and Warsaw allegedly serves the interests of Moscow, 

so this issue should be approached... with great 

caution. He also noted, that, despite his 

Ukrainian counterpart’s statements, 

he wanted to hold a meeting 

with him.

 

 

___________________________




 

PAP: European Commission extends 

ban on grain imports from Ukraine 

to five countries

June 5th, 10:30am
https://en.news-front.info/




The European Commission has extended a ban on grain 

imports from Ukraine to five border countries until mid-

September. This was reported by RIA Novosti, citing 

the PAP agency.

 

The European Commission has extended a ban on grain

 imports from Ukraine to Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, 

Romania and Bulgaria. The paper said that the 

ban will last until mid-September.

 

“The European Commission... has extended until mid-

September the EU ban on imports of wheat, maize, 

rapeseed and sunflower, from Ukraine. It came 

into force on May the 2nd, and replaced the 

unilateral import ban decisions imposed 

by countries bordering Ukraine -

including Poland” - the 

agency noted.

 

 

__________________________

 

 


Fitch Warns It Could Still Cut US


 Debt Rating ---- Even After Deal


June 3rd, 4:13pm (FNA)


 


Fitch Ratings on Friday warned that it could still downgrade


the U.S.’s credit rating -- even after Congress passed a bill 


averting an unprecedented default on government debt.


 


While the deal to raise the debt ceiling and cut spending are


 “positive considerations”, Fitch said “repeated political 


standoffs” over the federal government’s borrowing


 limit “lowers confidence in governance on fiscal 


and debt matters”, POLITICO reported.


 


Fitch issued its negative credit watch for US debt last week. 


The company said it intends to “resolve” its negative 


watch.... by the end of September.


 


President Joe Biden is expected to sign the legislation later.


 


Treasury securities, are the lifeblood of financial markets, and


a benchmark for how everything from municipal debt to credit 


card rates are priced. A downgrade, which would mark only


 the second time a ratings service has knocked US bonds 


from top-tier status, could drive up borrowing costs for


 consumers, businesses and governments, tightening 


credit conditions at a time when the economy is


 already at risk of a recession.


 


That would make..... for tough political headwinds.. for Biden. 


House Speaker Kevin McCarthy & another 2024 incumbents 


waited until the US was days away from default.... before 


agreeing to a deal. A similar dynamic influenced S&P’s


decision to downgrade the US credit rating in 2011


even after President Barack Obama and 


Republican leaders, averted a debt-


limit disaster.


 


So far, the economy has shown surprising resilience despite


stubbornly high inflation -- and a rapid series of interest rate


 hikes shepherded by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.


 


But US policymakers have risked damaging the economy’s


 otherwise strong fundamentals ---- thanks to “a steady


 deterioration in governance over the last 15 years”,
according to Fitch’s statement.


 


“Increased political polarization, and partisanship, as 


witnessed by the contested 2020 election, repeated 


brinkmanship over the debt limit and the failure to 


tackle fiscal challenges from growing mandatory


spending has led to rising fiscal deficits and a


debt burden,” the ratings service said.


 






_____________________________________



BRICS members welcome 


Iran's potential accession


by Mahdi Abbasian


June 3rd, 2:49pm


Press TV, Cape Town


 


Iran’s Foreign minister has attended the BRICS foreign


 ministers’ summit in South Africa. On the second day 


of his visit, Hossein amirabdollahian held several 


meetings with the participating nations’


 top diplomats. 


 


He said that the members of the BRICS group of 


emerging economies - have welcomed the 


Islamic Republic's potential accession


 to the powerful bloc. 


 



__________________________________________


 


 


 


Survey: European Economists 


Particularly Critical --- of US 


Inflation Reduction Act


June 3rd, 1:47pm (FNA)


 


Economists in major European countries are 


particularly critical of the US Inflation 


Reduction Act (IRA), according to a 


global survey published on Friday.


 


The survey, conducted by the German ifo Institute for


 Economic Research --- and the Institute for Swiss 


Economic Policy (IWP), surveyed around 8,000 


economic experts, globally, Xinhua news 


agency reported.


 


In Germany, Europe's largest economy, 64 percent of the 


economists surveyed, fear that the IRA will negatively 


impact their country's economy. In France, the figure 


is as high as 83 percent.


 


"Misgivings are especially grave in Germany and France,"


 said ifo researcher Niklas Potrafke, adding, "But their


 colleagues outside Europe, are far more relaxed 


about the effects of the IRA."


 


With 369 billion US dollars, the IRA is the single largest


 investment in "green initiatives" in US history. With 


the bill, the US is aiming to cut greenhouse gas


 emissions by 40 percent by 2030, compared


 to 2005 levels.


 


The European Union (EU), has fiercely criticized


the measure, as thinly disguised protectionism.


 


"There is a risk that industries, such as steel and 


automobiles, will go to the US with substantial 


investments and drag their supplier networks 


with them," Henrik Ahlers, chairman of the 


Management Board at EY Germany,
said 
in April.


 


According to a recent survey conducted by the 


Association of German Chambers of Industry 


and Commerce (DIHK)... German companies 


intend to intensify their foreign investments


 in the next twelve months, particularly 


strongly in North America.  17% of 


them cited the IRA as the reason.


 


In the case of hydrogen, US subsidies are so high


 that they would cover the entire production 


costs from 2030, Handelsblatt newspaper 


has reported.


 


"Europe must, therefore, ensure that green hydrogen 


also becomes significantly cheaper here. Otherwise


 there is a risk: that investments in hydrogen-based


 production - for example, in green steel - will flow


 primarily to the US," said Philipp Jaeger, an 


expert at the Jacques Delors Centre.


 


 


_____________________________________

 
 

  Death toll ...of train crash in

India rises to 261 — South 

Eastern Railway Spokesman

June 3rd, 11:10am (TASS)

 

The death toll of the railway crash in India has increased to 

261 people, says Aditya Chaudhary, Chief Public Relations 

Officer of the South Eastern Railway.

 

"The death toll in the Balasore train accident has risen to

 261," Chaudhary said, according to the Press Trust of 

India, adding that "rescue of injured passengers
has 
been completed."

 

Earlier, Indian authorities reported 238 victims. On Saturday

 morning, AFP reported 288 victims citing its sources, but 

this information has not been confirmed yet. About 900

 people were injured in the incident.

 




_______________________________________
 






Argentinians - condemn aggression 


against Cuban artists, intellectuals


by Juan M. Garcia


June 3rd, 8:45am


  (Prensa Latina) 


 


The International Federation of Writers for Freedom (FIEL) 


--- strongly condemned the attacks on Cuban artists and


 intellectuals who defend their country and government.


 


Recently, the Buena Fe duo was attacked by individuals 


who tried to prevent their concerts in Spain, and right-


wing extremists boycotted the participation of writer 


Nancy Morejon, as honorary president at the Poetry 


Market, in Paris, France.


 


These fascist attacks are not isolated events ----- but a 


reflection of the radicalization of extreme right-wing


 groups ----- at the service of decadent and dying 


imperialism, in its war for survival, FIEL said


 in a statement.


 


We not only repudiate these actions, but we make ourselves


 available in the fight for the peoples’ self-determination, 


the Federation added.


 


It also expressed its willingness to confront all kinds of 


external interference and ----- “combat imperialism,
which
 destroys... all that is human.


 


 


________________________________________________________


 


 


 


Copppal condemns US blockade 


against Cuba --- and repeats


 its solidarity


by Juan M. Garcia


June 3rd, 8:30am


(Prensa Latina) 


 


The members of the Permanent Conference of Political 


Parties of Latin America and the Caribbean (Copppal)


 condemned the US blockade against Cuba --- and 


repeated their solidarity with the Cuban people.


 


At the conclusion of the 51st Plenary Meeting of the


 Conference, which brings together more than 70 


parties from the continent, the delegates 


unanimously approved a resolution 


--- condemning the intensified 


economic, commercial and 


financial blockade imposed 


by the Government of the 


United States on Cuba -- 


for more than 60 years,


 the document added.


 


The blockade and the application of 243 measures 


adopted during the Donald Trump administration 


and maintained by President Joe Biden, have


 been tightened to unsuspected levels.


 


It is the main obstacle to the development of Cuba’s economy,


 it impacts all sectors of society and is a flagrant and massive


 violation of the human rights of Cubans, the text pointed out.


 


The extraterritorial nature of the US blockade threatens the


 peace and sovereignty of the Latin America and Caribbean


 peoples, the Latin American political parties denounced, 


at the end of their conference on Friday.


 


They demanded an end to that policy, as it has also
been
 demanded - every year for three decades - by
an 
overwhelming majority of the member States 


of the United Nations General Assembly.


 


Copppal also called for Cuba’s removal from the spurious list 


of State Sponsors of Terrorism, which violates International 


Law, & has a devastating negative impact on international


 financial relations and institutions.


 


We demand the end of media harassment against 


the Cuban people. Blockade No, Solidarity Yes! 


Better without the Blockade!


 


 


_____________________________________________


 


 


 


Indian president to visit 


Suriname and Serbia


by Ileana Ferrer Fonte


June 3rd, 7:15am 


 (Prensa Latina) 


 


Indian President Droupadi Murmu, will visit Suriname 


and Serbia from June 4 to 9, on her first trip abroad 


after she took office.


 


The first leg of her tour will be in Suriname, where she will


 stay until June 6 and will participate as a special guest to


 celebrate the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Indians 


in that South American country, Saurabh Kumar, 


secretary for the East at the Indian Ministry of 


Foreign Affairs, said at a press conference.


 


Kumar described Murmu’s visit to Suriname as historic.


 


The diplomat noted, that India and Suriname enjoyed warm


 and friendly relations, and emphasized the diaspora’s role 


as a bridge between the two nations.


 


Next, Murmu will travel to Serbia, at the invitation 


of his counterpart, Aleksandar Vucic. She will be 


accompanied by a delegation of entrepreneurs, 


Sanjay Verm, secretary for the West at the 


Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said.


 


Verm stated -- that it would be the first visit at the


 level of heads of State between India and Serbia.


 


The visit aims to explore the possibilities


 and prospects of business opportunities.


 


 


_________________________________________


 


 


 


The Government of Nicaragua 


congratulates Raul Castro


 on his birthday


by Juan M. Garcia


June 3rd, 00:51am


(Prensa Latina)


 


The Government of Nicaragua congratulated the 


historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Army 


General Raul Castro, who is turning 92 


on Saturday.


 


“We send you an infinite hug on your 92nd birthday, serious


 words, how serious has been your life of dedication and


 commitment to a free homeland and a burning heart,” 


the message from the Sandinista Government says.


 


The text, signed by President Daniel Ortega and Vice
President Rosario Murillo, expresses satisfaction 


with knowing that Raul is healthy and strong,


full of his people’s spirit --- that of Fidel 


Castro, the heroic Cuban Revolution,


his family --- and the “indelible 


memory of our dear Vilma.”


 


“Have a great day, another day of victories, because Raul 


is advancing, and because unity, fraternity and solidarity 


are our guarantees of the triumph of love and peace,” 


the congratulatory message points out.


 


Ortega and Murillo wished the Cuban leader to maintain 


the same strength as Fidel Castro, and the one with 


which they knew him, in addition to “maintaining 


the undefeated dreams of our heroes and paths


 of liberation.”


 


 


______________________________________________


 






Russian Security Council draws 


up measures against sanctions


by Ileana Ferrer Fonte


June 3rd, 7:41am


(Prensa Latina) 


 


The Russian Security Council is drawing up measures to


 block the West's attempts to cause an economic crisis


 in the country, the press service of the State body 


reported on Saturday.


 


According to the press release -- which Sputnik quoted on 


Saturday, Russian authorities are focusing on developing 


measures to block any efforts by Western countries


 to provoke an economic crisis in Russia.


 


At a meeting with the permanent members of the body on


 Friday, Security Council Chairman and President Vladimir


 Putin stressed the need ---- to do everything possible to 


prevent attempts at destabilizing the internal situation.


 


Many countries have condemned Russia’s special military


 operation in Ukraine since February 24 2022, and support 


Kiev -- with arms supplies, donations, humanitarian aid,
and
 sanctions against Moscow.


 


According to the Castellum.AI dashboard, Russia has been 


the country most punished by sanctions, ahead of Iran, 


Syria, North Korea, Belarus, and Venezuela. 


 


More than 13,260 new restrictive measures have been


 activated against Russia since February 2022, in 


addition to nearly 2,700 actions.... that were 


already in force.






 


_____________________________________________






Saudi trade with BRICS --- 

topped $160 bln last year 

— Saudi minister

June 2nd, 6pm (TASS)

 

 Saudi trade with BRICS topped $160 billion in 2022, making

 Saudi Arabia the biggest Middle Eastern trade partner of

 the bloc that comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and 

South Africa, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan

 Al Saud said on Friday.

 

He made the statement at a meeting of foreign ministers 

from the BRICS Friends group that took place in the 

South African city of Cape Town.

 

"His Highness stated that the kingdom is the largest trading

 partner of BRICS in the Middle East and that trade with

 BRICS countries, which is showing significant growth,

 reflects developing and strengthening relations with

 the countries of this group," the Saudi Foreign 

Ministry said on Twitter.

 

According to the minister, trade with the BRICS countries

 increased from $81 billion in 2017 to $128 billion in 2021

 and exceeded $160 billion last year. The BRICS Friends

 ministerial meeting took place a day after a meeting
of 
BRICS foreign ministers.

The meeting was attended by 
foreign ministries from
the BRICS countries and 12 
countries of the Global
South that expressed a 
desire to join the bloc.

 

 

____________________________



BRICS --- no longer ‘alternative,' 

but mainstay in global politics 

— India’s top diplomat

June 2nd, 5:15pm (TASS) 

 

The BRICS group of nations is no longer an alternative

 to other international associations, but a bulwark of 

global politics, External Affairs Minister of India 

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, said on Friday.

 

"BRICS is no longer an ‘alternative,’ it is an established

 feature of the global landscape. The message of 

reform that BRICS embodies must permeate the 

world of multilateralism," the top diplomat 

wrote on his Twitter page.

 

"The Friends of BRICS strongly support UNSC reform," 

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar went on to say. 

 

According to the foreign minister, "BRICS is not only 

an expression of multipolarity, but of the many and 

diverse ways of meeting international challenges."

 

The BRICS group of nations seeks to build "a fairer, 

inclusive and open international architecture with

 sustainable development at its core," he tweeted.

 

"Creating resilient and reliable supply chains are 

central to ensuring that no one is left behind,"

 the foreign minister stressed.

 

The Friends of BRICS ministerial meeting was held earlier 

on Friday, in Cape Town. It was attended... by foreign 

ministers from the BRICS nations and 12 countries

 of the Global South who are interested in joining

 the group, namely ------ Argentina, Bangladesh,
V
enezuela, Gabon, the Democratic Republic 

of the Congo, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, the 

Comoros, Cuba, the United Arab 

Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.

 

On Thursday, Cape Town hosted a meeting of top diplomats 

from the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and 

South Africa) who, among other things, discussed the 

idea of the group’s expansion.

 

 

_____________________________________




Russia seeing rise in agricultural 

exports to friendly nations

 agriculture minister

June 2nd, 2:59pm (TASS) 

 

The percentage of Russia’s agricultural exports - 

going to friendly countries has ticked up to 87% 

- the Agriculture Minister, Dmitry Patrushev, 

said on Friday.

 

"Deliveries going to friendly nations have increased and now 

stand at 87% of agricultural exports overall. Export flows to 

China, Turkey, Egypt, Bangladesh, Algeria and Pakistan 

have ticked up noticeably," the minister remarked.

 

Russia is systemically rechanneling its export flows 

to prioritize working with responsible, reliable 

foreign partners, Patrushev noted.

 

The country retained its status as a net agricultural exporter

 as of the end of last year, he noted. Supplies to foreign 

markets totaled $41.6 bln, while imports amounted 

to $35.7 billion.

 

 Every fifth consignment of wheat exported globally was

 grown in Russia. Furthermore --- Russia supplied over 

two million metric tons of fish and over 0.73 million

 tons of livestock products to the international 

markets last year. Exports of high-value-

added products, are seeing 

steady growth.

 

 

_______________________________




Saudi Arabia wants in BRICS – ''West'' 

needs to prepare for repercussions

June 2nd, 12:55pm

https://en.news-front.info/

 

Saudi Arabia’s accession to BRICS would solidify 

the geopolitical trend and remind the US, that
its
 influence is waning, Asia Times writes. 

 

The West needs to hear a signal that it has no right 

to determine either the international geopolitical 

order or the global financial system, as it 

interprets it.

 

Saudi Arabia is negotiating to join the New Development 

Bank BRICS (NDB) – heralding its imminent entry into

 the club, which already includes Brazil, Russia, 

India, China and South Africa.

 

 Riyadh wants to challenge the West’s monopoly on global 

financial institutions and become a counterweight to the 

clubs of rich countries.

 

The West seems to have already wary and made conclusions:

 this year, the G7 invited India, Brazil, the African Union, 

Vietnam, Indonesia and South Korea as observers. 

 

The rest of the world is also watching developments, some

 with interest and some with bated breath, says the author.

 




__________________________________________

 




President Maduro to Attend 

Erdogan's Inauguration 

in Türkiye

June 2nd (teleSUR)

 

In June 2022, Presidents Maduro and Erdogan held a 

meeting in Ankara where they decided to expand 

the scope of bilateral cooperation.

 

On Friday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro arrived in

 Turkey to attend the presidential inauguration of Recep 

Tayyip Erdogan, who won the elections on May 28.

 

The Bolivarian leader was accompanied by his wife, 

legislator Cilia Flores. They were received by 

Murat Soylu, the deputy governor of
Ankara, 
and other authorities.

 

On Saturday, the presence of over twenty world leaders 

is expected at the inauguration of Erdogan, who will 

assume his third consecutive presidential term.

 

The investiture ceremony will begin at 2:00 p.m. local time in 

Parliament and will continue later in the presidential palace.

 

Erdogan managed to capture 49.5 percent of the vote in the 

first round on May 14 and finally won the second round 

with 52.2 percent of the polls.

 

Türkiye and Venezuela have traditionally maintained good 

diplomatic relations. In June 2022, Maduro and Erdogan 

held a meeting in Ankara where they decided to 

expand the scope of bilateral cooperation.

 

This decision resulted in over 40 specific agreements

 in different economic, scientific, commercial, and

 cultural areas.

 

 

____________________________________

 

 

 

Hitmen Assassinate Duran City 

Prosecutor in Ecuador

June 2nd (teleSUR)

 

They fired at least 40 bullets at the car of Prosecutor
Palacios, who was returning to his home.

 

On Thursday, the Ecuadorian Attorney General's Office

 confirmed the death of Prosecutor Leonardo Palacios

 in Duran, a neighboring city of Guayaquil, which is 

one of the areas most affected by crime and

 insecurity since Guillermo Lasso 

became president in 2021.

 

According to the first investigations, Palacios and his 

secretary were shot at by unknown persons when

 they were driving a vehicle a few blocks from 

his office.

 

Officials of the Attorney General's Office arrived at the 

site of the attack to begin investigations and find the 

culprits. At the crime scene, police officers found 

more than 40 bullets.

 

Meanwhile, army soldiers and police officers... carried out

 a joint operation to try to locate and surround the hitmen.

 

A tweet reads --- "Sicarios assassinated Duran Prosecutor

Leonardo Palacios. The attackers fired from a motorcycle 

as the officer was returning home."

 

"Over 10 hours have passed since Palacios assassination... 

President Guillermo Lasso, however, has not said a single 

word on social networks," journalist Alexis Moncayo said,

 highlighting the inability of his administration to react to

 the prevailing violence in Ecuador.

 

After the attack, the prosecutor's vehicle, whose windshield 

was perforated by multiple bullet holes, was left stranded

 in the middle of Rodas street, a few metres from a 

judicial office.

 

Despite witnesses' attempts to help the victims, the

 prosecutor died instantly. The secretariat survived 

the attack and tried to help Palacios, who had no 

vital signs, newspaper El Universo reported, 

noting that the police arrived at the crime 

scene half an hour after the events.




 

____________________________________

 




45 Bags Filled With Human Remains 

Discovered by Mexico Police

 June 2nd (teleSUR)

 

During a recent investigation into the disappearance of

 seven young individuals in Jalisco, located in Western

 Mexico, a minimum of 45 bags containing human 

remains were discovered in a ravine.

 

The bags were found in the depths of a 40-metre 

ravine located in the Zapopan municipality, 

which is considered to be a suburban 

area of Guadalajara, an expansive

 industrial centre.

 

“Forty-five bags with human remains have been extracted 

that belong to both male and female people,” the state 

prosecutor’s office said in a statement on Thursday.

 

The missing person’s reports of each of the seven individuals

 had been filed independently on disparate dates; however, 

upon investigation, it was revealed that they were all

 employed at a singular call centre located 

proximal to the site at which human 

remains were detected.

 

The forensic specialists are yet to determine the identity 

and the number of victims contained in the bags.

 

Preliminary investigations indicate the potential involvement

 of the call centre in illegal activities. Local media outlets

 have reported that the authorities have seized items 

such as marijuana, a cloth, and a cleaning rag 

exhibiting traces of blood. Additionally, 

documentation pertaining to possible 

commercial endeavours, has

 been discovered.

 

The law enforcement officials stated that certain human

 remains discovered within the bags exhibited features 

that seemed to correspond to those of the absent 

juvenile individuals.

 

The recovery efforts involve coordination among firefighters,

 civil defense personnel, and a helicopter. It is expected that

 the ongoing operation will extend through the coming days.

 

 

__________________________________________________________

 




US Congress Approves Bill

 to Raise Debt Limit

June 2nd, 12:15pm (teleSUR)

 

The U.S. reached in January its debt limit of US$31.4 trillion, 

over 120 percent of its GDP. The Senate approved the bill 

by a 63-36 vote.

 

After months of partisan arm-wrestling, the U.S. Congress 

approved the bill to raise America's debt ceiling after the 

Senate's passage late Thursday, the 103rd time since 

1945, allowing the government to avert a debt 

default by borrowing more.

 

The Senate approved the bill by a 63-36 vote. Previously

 okayed by the House of Representatives by a vote of 

314 to 117, the act suspends the debt ceiling until

 January 2025.

 

The debt ceiling is a cap on the total amount of money that

 the United States is authorized to borrow to fund the

 government and meet its financial obligations.

 

The United States reached in January its debt limit of US

$31.4 trillion, more than 120 percent of its annual GDP. 

For months, as the White House and Congress were 

locked in a tug-of-war over terms of lifting the debt 

ceiling, the Treasury Department has been using

 "extraordinary measures" to avoid default.

 

The deal was a make-or-break bid to steer the U.S. 

government away from a perilous debt cliff, as 

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has 

warned that the country could run out 

of money to pay its bills on time if 

Congress failed to address the 

debt ceiling by June 5.

 

With Congress's approval, the bill will be sent to U.S. 

President Joe Biden's desk for his signature 

before becoming law.

 

As with previous debt-ceiling sagas, the passage of 

the deal represents a trade-off of partisan interests 

following a months-long game of chicken between 

Democrats and Republicans, with each side trying 

to use an imminent default as a bargaining chip 

for advancing their own political agenda.

 

Both parties have been selling the deal as a victory for 

their own side, but not all are pleased with the result.

 

"It is frankly an insult to the American people to support 

a piece of legislation that continues to put our country's 

financial future at risk," U.S. Representative Matt 

Rosendale, a Republican from the U.S. state of 

Montana, lamented in a statement.

 

It's not just Americans who have been on tenterhooks 

watching the cyclical U.S. partisan game. Over half 

of the world's foreign currency reserves are held 

in dollars, which means "a U.S. default could 

wreak havoc on global financial markets," 

the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations 

said in a recent report.

 

A decrease in the dollar's value triggered by default, 

or the uncertainty surrounding it "could make debts 

denominated in other currencies relatively more 

expensive and threaten to tip some emerging

 economies into debt or political crises,"

 added the think tank.

 

"The U.S. as the world's biggest economy has taken the

 global economy hostage by politicizing and polarizing 

its internal political issues on global financial 

markets," said Joseph Matthews, a senior 

professor at the BELTEI International 

University in Phnom Penh.

 

Despite periodic rises of the debt ceiling, the two parties

 show little interest in addressing the root cause of the

 trouble, including America's behemoth 

spending appetite.

 

Military spending accounts for the lion's share of the

 country's debt portfolio. Since 2000, the United 

States has poured hundreds of billions of 

dollars into the battlefields of 

Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, 

Libya, and Ukraine.

 

According to the Watson Institute at Brown University, from 

fiscal year 2001 to fiscal year 2022, more than half of the 

country's extra debt came from war costs.

 

The splurge on wars is not the only expenditure to break

 Uncle Sam's bank. According to Jeffrey Sachs, director 

of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia 

University, immoderate welfare and healthcare costs 

also contribute to the fiscal woes.

 

But so far, neither of the parties has been willing to risk

 offending voters by cutting these gross excesses and

 nudging the country's budget system back onto a 

sustainable track.

 

In its latest report, the U.S. Congressional Budget Office

 projected that U.S. debt held by the public will reach

 193 percent of GDP in 2053 if current policies 

generally remain unchanged. And... by 2028,

 interest payments of the U.S. government 

could exceed the country's entire 

defense budget.

 

Without concrete measures to reform its fiscal system, the 

repeated adjustments of the debt ceiling have proven to 

be nothing but only a Sisyphean task. This time.... is 

no exception.

 

Even though a deal is reached before the deadline, "such 

risks will keep reoccurring until comprehensive reforms 

are enacted," said Steven Wright, associate professor 

of International Relations at the Hamad Bin Khalifa

 University, Qatar.

 

"We should never have been put in this position to begin

 with. This is about paying the ransom to a bunch of 

hostage takers," Senator Elizabeth Warren said 

before casting her vote.

 

"And that is not how we should run this government. 

It's not good for the people of this country and it's 

not good for the position of the United States all 

around the world."

 

 

_____________________________________

 


 

Uzbekistan urges Europe to
maintain 
humanitarian aid
to Afghanistan


by Alina Ramos Martin

June 2nd, 11:17am

(Prensa Latina) 

 

The president of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyóyev, urged the
European Union (EU) countries and those of Central Asia
to maintain the level of humanitarian aid volumes
for Afghanistan.

 

According to the head of State, speaking at the 2nd Central

 Asia-EU Summit held in the Kyrgyz city of Cholpon-Ata, the

 Afghan problem is at the centre of the region’s attention, 

as the humanitarian situation in the country is 

deteriorating at a dizzying pace.

 

In this connection, we urge our partners not to reduce 

the volumes of humanitarian aid to the Afghan 

people, Mirziyev said.

 

The president also confirmed.. his country’s readiness, to

 continue to provide the services of the Termez logistics 

centre on the Uzbek-Afghan border for transportation
of 
humanitarian cargoes.

 

“We propose to continue regular consultations between the

 special representatives of our countries in order to work 

out common approaches to the settlement of this 

situation so as to contribute to the peaceful 

development of Afghanistan,” 

Mirziyóyev added.

 

 

______________________________

 

 

 

Cuba advocates for a new 

multilateral world order 

from South Africa

by Ileana Ferrer Fonte

June 2nd, 10:53am

 (Prensa Latina) 

 

Cuba's First Deputy Foreign Minister Gerardo Peñalver Portal 

advocated for a new multilateral world order in this city on 

Friday, in which solidarity, cooperation, and integration 

among nations prevail.

 

Addressing the Friends of BRICS Foreign Ministers meeting, 

the diplomat stressed that this historic demand unites the 

G77 and the BRICS Group.

 

The current order, created from colonialism, is based on

 rules, institutions, trade, and financial systems that 

tend to perpetuate the benefits of the former 

colonial powers and limit the opportunities

 for the rest of the nations, Peñalver 

Portal argued.

 

He added that its tendency is to foster the current 

conditions of economic crisis, with effects on 

developing countries... whose opportunities 

for recovery and progress are increasingly 

out of reach.

 

The BRICS countries can and should significantly contribute

 to the necessary reform of the current international

 financial system ---- which is profoundly unjust, 

anti-democratic, speculative, and exclusive,

 the diplomat stated.

 

In his speech, Peñalver Portal stressed the initiative of 

the BRICS countries to create a broad-based foreign

 exchange reserve mechanism to guarantee 

security and stability to the South and 

establish mutual credit lines in

 local currencies.

 

The G77 and the BRICS Group are committed to using

 science, technology, and innovation as engines of

 sustainable development, he noted.

 

Cuba has called for a Summit of heads of State and

Government of the G77 plus China this year ------ to 

address the current challenges for development 

and the role of science, technology, and 

innovation in that context...  which will 

take place in Havana on September 

15 and 16.

 

Cuba is attending the Friends of BRICS Foreign Ministers

 meeting as President of the Group of 77 (G77) plus 

China, “the largest and most diverse group of 

developing countries at a time of 

monumental challenges for our

 countries”, Peñalver Portal 

added, in his speech.

 

 

______________________________

 

 

 

Teachers march against 

privatization of schools 

in Puerto Rico

by Alina Ramos Martin

June 2nd, 10:38am

 (Prensa Latina) 

 

Faced with the threat that looms over public education,

the Federation of Teachers in Puerto Rico (FMPR) joins

 forces with other organizations against the alliance 

schools promoted by the government.

 

In this regard, the president of the FMPR, Mercedes Martínez, 

told Prensa Latina that the objective is to carry out a real 

educational reform through the repeal of Law 85-2018, 

put into effect during the administration of ousted 

governor Ricardo Rosselló Nevares.

 

On Sunday, hundreds of teachers, with the backing of unions, 

political and social sectors, marched through Old San Juan 

against the policy of privatization of public education in

this country of 3.2 million inhabitants.

 

Originally called by the FMPR, along with Únete, Jornada Se 

Acabaron las Promesas and El Otro Puerto Rico, the march

 made a route from Plaza Colón to La Fortaleza, seat of the

 executive branch, to ask Gov. Pedro R. Pierluisi for a five

-year moratorium on the so-called alliance schools.

 

The spokesman for El Otro Puerto Rico, Alfonso Ortiz 

Menchaca, said that some foreign investors receive 

tax exemptions, which some are taking advantage 

of ----- to turn public education into a business.

 

 

____________________________________

 

 

 

Dictatorship’s torturers were 

sentenced in Uruguay

 Ileana Ferrer Fonte

June 2nd, 9:38am

(Prensa Latina) 

 

Two former army captains were reportedly sentenced 

to 12 years and six months in prison for human rights

 violations in Uruguay.

 

Judge María Elbia Merlo sentenced the defendants for 

“continuous crimes of deprivation of freedom, 

aggravated in real repetition with countless 

crimes of torture.”

 

Seven people denounced in 2021 that they had been 

deprived of their freedom, sexually abused and

 tortured in the Infantry Battalion Number Six 

in San José ------ during the 1973-1985 

dictatorship.

 

According to the judgment, the complainants

 identified the repressors.

 

The ruling stated that they were hooded and subjected 

to cruel and degrading treatments, during captivity.

 

 

_______________________________________





 


China slams US - for plans to 


sign trade deal with Taiwan, 


warns against any official 


contact with Taipei


June 1st, 4:37pm


(PressTV)


 


China has slammed the US for having plans to reach a trade


 deal with Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), warning Washington


 against making any official interaction with the 


self-ruled island.


 


"China strongly opposes official interaction of any form


 between China’s Taiwan region and countries that 


have diplomatic relations with China. That 


includes --- negotiating or signing any 


agreement of sovereign implication


 or official nature" --- said Chinese 


Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, 


Mao Ning, at a regular press 


conference on Thursday.


 


Washington and Taipei reached an agreement last month


 on the first stage of a bilateral trade initiative, titled the 


US-Taiwan Initiative of 21st-Century Trade, less than a


 year after negotiations began.


 


It will be the first official trade agreement between the 


two sides since US President Joe Biden assumed 


office in 2021.


 


According to Taipei, the so-called trade deal is due to 


be signed on Thursday by employees of the unofficial


 entities that represent Washington and Taipei to 


each other at a ceremony attended by US and 


Taiwanese trade officials.


 


The treaty is claimed... to cover customs and trade 


facilitation, regulatory practices & small business.


 


China has sovereignty over the Chinese Taipei, and under


 the ‘One China’ policy, almost all world countries 


recognize that sovereignty. The US, too, 


recognizes the Chinese sovereignty 


over the island --- but has long 


courted Taipei in an attempt


 to unnerve Beijing.


 


Furthermore, Washington, which backs Taipei’s secessionist 


president, also infuriates Beijing by selling weapons to the


 self-governed island in violation of its own official policy.


 


The Chinese government strongly opposes other countries


 pursuing official and diplomatic ties with Chinese Taipei 


and has consistently warned the US and other states 


against engaging with the self-proclaimed 


government in Taipei.


 


"The US’s move gravely violates the one-China principle and


the three China-US joint communiqués -- and contravenes


the US’s own commitment of maintaining only unofficial 


relations with Taiwan," Mao further said, stressing that


China has frequently made solemn démarches to 


the US.


 


"The US, needs to stop official interaction of any form with


 Taiwan, refrain from negotiating or signing any agreement


 of sovereign implication, or official nature, with China’s 


Taiwan region - and stop sending any wrong message


 to separatist forces seeking “Taiwan independence”


 in the name of economy and trade," emphasized 


the Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman.


 


Beijing has reiterated its sovereignty over Taiwan, saying no


 individual or force can hold China back from achieving the


 goal of national reunification.


 


Mao further stressed that all attempts by authorities in Taipei 


to seek 'independence' through relying on Washington under 


the pretext of economic and trade cooperation are "doomed to fail."


 


China has time and again stressed that the self-ruled island


 is obliged to unite with the mainland, by military force


 if necessary. 


 


Despite Beijing's warnings, the US government has 


continued its attempts to forge strong alliances 


with regional allies, while countering China's


 growing clout.


 


 


________________________________________


 


 


 


Ukrainian Conflict.. Has Far-


Reaching Negative Impact: 


Italy's Central Bank


June 1st (teleSUR)


 


Besides increasing interest rates, the war has generated 


a loss of purchasing power, reduced consumption, and 


a deterioration in working conditions.


 


On Wednesday, the Italian Central Bank Governor, Ignazio
Visco, said that the Ukrainian conflict has had a 


sprawling impact on the European economies,


 pushing the median wealth and consumer 


confidence lower.


 


In his annual report, he pointed out that the Ukraine crisis 


has also had an impact on energy prices, which resulted


 in an increase in interest rates by the European Central


 Bank (ECB), all of which had a far-reaching negative 


economic impact.


 


The Ukraine conflict "was a turning point in international


 relations that heavily affected growth, inflation, & world 


trade... Amid the clear and widespread increase 


in inflation... global growth slowed down 


in a scenario of strong economic and 


political uncertainty," Visco said.


 


The European economies were significantly boosted by the


 European Union's (EU) massive coronavirus recovery


 package of loans and grants. To date, over  


US$160 billion has been distributed 


to the EU member states.


 


While the disposable income of Italy's households grew by 


6.2 percent last year, that was a 1.2 percent decrease in


 real terms due to the record-setting inflation, sparked


 mainly by the situation in Ukraine.


 


Contrary to what Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni thinks, the 


Central Bank governor expressed the need to structure 


policies to improve wages and youth employment.


 


"Temporary work is associated with very long precarious


 conditions. The proportion of young people who after 


5 years continue in limited-term jobs remains close 


to 20 percent," Visco said.


 


 


________________________________________




 United Nations General Assembly elects
Trinidad & Tobago representative 


as president of 78th session


June 1st, 4:05pm (TASS) 


 


The representative of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, 


diplomat Dennis Francis was elected as the President of


 the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, a TASS


 correspondent reported.


 


Francis was the only candidate running for the post. He 


has been working as a diplomat for 40 years. He was 


his country’s permanent representative to the UN


 in Geneva, to the World Trade Organization 


and to the UN Human Rights Council.


 


He also served in the UN specialized 


agencies in Vienna and Rome.


 


The 78th session of the UN General 


Assembly will begin this September.


  


 


____________________________________

 

 


Peruvian Workers Protest Against 

REPSOL Labour Abuses

June 1st, 3:36pm

 (teleSUR))

 

On Wednesday, La Pampilla Refinery Workers Union

 (SUTRELAPA) held a sit-in to denounce the breach 

of labour agreements by the transnational oil 

company REPSOL.

 

"So far, the company has not satisfied various demands 

to avoid arbitrary changes," the Peruvian workers said, 

explaining that they are requesting an annual shift 

schedule: that allows for establishing positions, 

vacations, medical breaks, and replacements
for each worker.

 

SUTRELAPA Secretary Jack Chavarry affirmed that REPSOL

 does not recognize the clauses of the collective agreement 

related to issues such as the wage gap and a health plan.

 

If REPSOL does not comply with its responsibilities as an

 employer, SUTRELAPA will demand the intervention of 

the National Superintendence of Labour Inspection.

 

SUTRELAPA also denounced labour abuses against three

 women, two of whom were pregnant and one of whom 

was lactating.

 

Although these workers were hired to fill positions 

in the refining process, they were fired by the 

transnational company.

 

For its part, the La Pampilla Refinery management stated 

that REPSOL is complying with both the Peruvian labour

 regulations and its policy on human rights and 

community relations.

 

 

____________________________________

 




Israel introduces bills to tighten

 control over Palestinian schools

June 1st, 3:30pm

(PressTV)

 

The Israeli Knesset (parliament) has introduced two bills 

that would bring Palestinian educational centres and 

staff in the 1948-occupied territories under stricter 

scrutiny from the regime’s so-called security and 

intelligence apparatus.

 

One of the bills, proposed on Wednesday, would require the

 Israeli education ministry to conduct background security

 checks on potential teachers, according to Hebrew-

language media outlets.

 

If passed, the bill would authorize a committee, after

 conducting a hearing, to rescind the appointment

 of a teacher, or dismiss a school staff member 

if they “identify with a [so-called] terror 

organization” or express support for 

the armed struggle of an 

adversarial entity.

 

It also requires potential teachers 

to prove they have no “affinity 

for terrorism.”

 

The second legislation sets more stringent 

guidelines that would make receiving a 

teaching license much harder.

 

The licensing of schools would be dependent 

on whether they accommodate “the 

fundamental requirements of the

 Israeli school system.”

 

The Israeli Ministerial Committee for Legislation

 approved both bills earlier this week. 

 

According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the 

Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) said 

the move is a step towards reinstating the 

supervision of the Palestinian school 

system in occupied lands --- which 

Israel’s ‘internal security service’ 

Shin Bet used to carry out. The 

practice was discontinued

 in 2005.

 

Last month, Israeli military forces demolished a donor-

funded Palestinian primary school in the central part 

of the occupied West Bank, in a flagrant violation of 

Palestinian children’s right to education.

 

Witnesses and local officials said the Israeli military 

raided Beit Ta’mir village, located six kilometres 

(3.7 miles) southeast of Bethlehem, on May 7

 and demolished Challenge 5 School.

 

They said dozens of Israeli soldiers cordoned off the 

area around the school, and a bulldozer flattened it

 shortly afterwards.

 

The school, which was built of makeshift materials, 

was attended by 66 Palestinian students. It was 

demolished in 2017 before it was rebuilt in the

 same year.

 

Israeli forces have delivered demolition orders to 58 schools

 in the West Bank, including East al-Quds, according to the 

Arab Campaign for Education for All (ACEA).

 

It warned in a statement that the violations affect children, 

teachers and school buildings, highlighting the need that

 concerned institutions and the relevant United Nations 

agencies to assume their role and responsibilities in 

pressuring the regime ---- to stop the policy of 

demolishing schools.

 

 

___________________________________






Economic challenges to compel 

former member countries to 

return to CIS fold — 

Lukashenko

June 1st, 2:45pm (TASS) 

 

The need to resolve challenging economic problems
...will 
prompt the former member countries of the
Commonwealth 
of Independent States to return
to the CIS fold, 
Belarusian President Alexander
Lukashenko
 said, on Thursday.

 

"It will be more difficult to get back in, but they will have

 to return; economics will compel them to do so," 

Lukashenko said.

 

The former republics of the USSR "aren’t needed [by anyone],

 other than the post-Soviet space that now exists following

 the break-up of the Soviet Union," the Belarusian leader 

said. "In actual fact, we speak the same language, we 

have an integrated economy, we have common 

markets, industrial cooperation, and so on. 

Neither our lifetimes, nor the lifetimes of 

our children, would be enough time to 

create such a thing [from scratch]. 

So, why would you want to tear it 

all apart?  What would be the 

rationale ----- for breaking up 

such an integrated market?"

Lukashenko asked, 

rhetorically.

 

He cited Ukraine as an example of the West’s attitude toward 

the former Soviet republics... with "everybody shutting their 

doors" to Kiev after the country had "started emptying out

 its grain storage elevators and shipped it all to Europe."

 

"What else would Ukraine sell in Western markets? Nothing.

 The war will end, and they will end up coming to us in any 

case," Lukashenko said, noting that, "how the situation 

will evolve for Moldova is still unclear.".

 




___________________________________________
 


 


 


Colombia: Murder of Human Rights


 Defenders Increased by 42 Pct


June 1st, 2:14pm  


(teleSUR)


 


The Duque administration left in 2022 a legacy that


 "could not be worse" --- due to the growth and 


expansion of illegal armed organizations.


 


On Thursday, the We Are Defenders organization released 


a report showing that 197 social leaders and human 


rights defenders were killed in 2022.


 


"We are especially concerned about the 42 percent increase


 in murders in 2022 compared to 2021... In addition, there


 were 840 attacks of different types, which show the 


diversity of violent acts that social leaders face,"


 the Somos Defensores Coordinator Lourdes


 Castro said.


 


The report shows that President Ivan Duque's administration


 (2018-2022) left a legacy that "could not be worse" due to 


the growth and expansion of illegal armed organizations 


that have modified the "variable geometry" of violent 


conflicts in Colombian territory.


 


"The year 2022 was the cruelest for social leaders, due to


 the number of murders," said Hernando Toro, prosecutor


 in charge of the Special Investigation Unit (UEI).


 


Despite the serious situation that still prevails, President 


Gustavo Petro has shown a willingness to face violence 


through policies such as the emergency plan for the


 protection of human rights defenders, social 


leaders and peace signatories, Castro


 pointed out.


 


These policies, however... have not been transferred to the


 control and research institutions. The Prosecutor's Office, 


the Attorney General's Office and other public institutions


 are not advancing quickly in the investigation of the 


murders, the Somos Defensores affirms.


 


The implementation of better policies "requires a joint


 evaluation between the different public institutions


 involved," it added.


 






____________________________________________






 


Brazil's Lula calls for common 


South American currency


June 1st, 2:10pm


(PressTV)


 


Brazil's president has called on South American countries


 to create a local currency for their regional trade, in 


efforts to reduce its reliance on the US dollar.


 


Addressing a summit of South American leaders, Lula da 


Silva called on the Mercosur trade bloc to create better 


compensation mechanisms and a shared unit of 


transaction for commerce.


 


The idea of a shared currency within the Mercosur trade 


bloc, comprised of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and 


Uruguay, has been discussed intermittently


 since its establishment in 1991.


 



 


________________________________________






In the US - the largest outflow of 

deposits from banks in 39 years

was recorded

May 31st, 10:16pm 

(Lenta.ru)

 

US banks in the first quarter of 2023 faced the largest 

outflow of deposits since 1984. This, is stated in the 

report of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 

(FDIC) of the United States.

 

The largest outflow of funds in 39 years occurred against the

 background of bankruptcies of major financial institutions in

 the country. The FDIC noted that the reduction was mainly 

due to uninsured deposits exceeding $ 250 thousand. It is 

specified that the total volume of deposits decreased by

 $ 472 billion, which is a record 2.5 percent.

 

At the same time, the FDIC reported that profit in the banking

 sector as a whole remained at the same level. In addition, 

the outflow of deposits was offset by an increase in 

wholesale financing, which increased by 14.4%

 in the first quarter of this year.

 

Earlier, former vice president of the financial corporation

Lehman Brothers, Lawrence McDonald, said that, if the 

US authorities do not solve the problem of outflows of 

deposits in the amount of more than 250 thousand 

dollars, fifty more US banks... may go bankrupt.

Regional banks will lose "hundreds of billions 

of dollars". These funds will go to large 

banks, and then to Treasury bonds.

 

 

_______________________________________




Multipolar world waiting in wings 


to replace noxious neo-colonial


 practices — Medvedev


May 31st, 4:59pm (TASS) 


 


Neo-colonial practices must become a thing of the past and


 give way to a multipolar world, said Dmitry Medvedev, the


 deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council and 


chairman of the ruling United Russia party.


 


"The struggle against neo-colonialism, is not just a timely 


theme, but remains one of the most acute and, perhaps,


 entirely contemporary issues in politics today," 


Medvedev said on Wednesday in the second
meeting of the organizing 
committee for
the Forum of 
Supporters of the Fight 


Against Modern Neo-colonialist
Practices - 
an association of 


political and social forces.


 


He said, "it is clear that those perniciously harmful neo-


colonial practices that have lingered on [from a bygone


 era] should be abandoned once and for all and finally 


give way to a multipolar world order."


 


"Acting in the name of security -- and the well-being of our 


peoples, we must strive to make our world a fairer, more


 equitable place," Medvedev stressed ---- noting that 


currently the world "unfortunately, cannot be


 described as just."


 


He believes that the task of the forum is "to protect the


 sacred right of people to determine their own path of


 development in each specific country -- as well as


 uphold unconditional respect for the generally


 accepted norms of international law, with
grounding in the UN Charter."


 


 


_________________________________


 


 


 


NDB could become ‘clearing centre’ 


for common BRICS currency — 


Russian Minister


May 31st, 4:51pm (TASS) 


 


The New Development Bank (NDB) created by BRICS
countries may become a kind of a clearing centre if


the idea of creating a common currency for BRICS 


members materializes, Finance Minister Anton 


Siluanov told TASS, on Wednesday.


 


"The idea of creating a common currency, although I would


 probably call it a payment unit inside BRICS countries, is


 floating around and is being discussed. We also have


 proposals --- about using digital financial assets 


supported by real assets, for example, gold


 - stable coins," the Minister said.


 


Such proposals have not been discussed in detail, he noted.


 "Nevertheless --- we are ready to discuss them within the 


New Development Bank framework that may become 


a kind of clearing centre. This... is not the core 


business for the bank now... but this is [also] 


not the main obstacle to solving the task," 


Siluanov said.


 


"National currencies are used in conditions of payment


 restrictions," the minister said, noting that about 70%


 of payments with China ---- are made in national 


exchanges now.


 


"This is an absolutely proper decision. However, such


 relations cannot be built with all countries; not all 


countries have a sound currency and a balanced 


trade turnover. At the same time, the omnibus 


clearing, will significantly simplify the task
of 
balancing export and import flows. 


Flexibility.....  when using the new 


payment unit, will be supported


 thereby,'' he added.


 


 


_________________________





Brazilian Lower House Approves 


Anti-Indigenous Territories Bill


May 31st, 4:14pm 


(teleSUR)


 


If this law is fully approved, large areas of the Amazon and 


other Brazilian ecosystems will remain available for the


 exploitation by private companies


 


With 283 votes in favour and 155 against, the right-wing 


controlled Lower House on Tuesday approved a bill 


that makes it difficult to demarcate Indigenous 


lands in Brazil.


 


Supported by the far-right President Jair Bolsonaro (2019-


2023), Bill 490, which establishes a time limit for the


 demarcation of Indigenous lands, it will now be 


analyzed by the Senate.


 


If approved by the senators, this bill will be sent to 


Brazilian President Lula da Silva, who must 


approve it or veto it definitively.


 


According to the Bill 490, the Brazilian state will only 


recognize as Indigenous territories those lands that


 Indigenous peoples had occupied until October 5,


 1988, when the country's Constitution 


was promulgated.


 


With the current legislation, Indigenous peoples are not


 required to demonstrate that they were occupying


 their lands up to that date.


 


In practical terms, the bill 490 approval will mean that large


 areas of the Amazon and other Brazilian ecosystems will 


remain available for the exploitation of natural resources 


by national or foreign companies.


 


The text approved by the Lower House allows Indigenous


 peoples to be expelled from their places of residence if


they do not prove that they lived there before 1988. 


Once the inhabitants are expelled, those lands 


can be commercialized.


 


According to official data, Indigenous peoples occupy 13.7 


percent of the Brazilian territory. So far, the authorities 


have recognized the existence of 610 Indigenous 


territories, 487 of which, are already fully 


delimited. Some 329 demarcated areas


 are located in the Amazon.


 


For four years, Bolsonaro completely paralyzed the


 demarcation of Indigenous territories --- which is 


an essential legal procedure for the protection 


of communities.


 


Through this policy, the former Capitan sought to 


facilitate the activity of mining and logging 


companies in areas protected by 


environmental laws.


 


 


___________________________________





Voice to parliament referendum 

legislation bill passes through 

Australia's lower house

May 31st, 4:02pm

(PressTV)

 

The Australian lower house has voted in favour of 

a government's constitutional amendment bill

 to create an indigenous voice in parliament.

 

Australia's House of Representatives, or the lower house 

of the Australian Parliament, on Wednesday passed

 legislation to hold a referendum on the 

Indigenous Voice, with 121 votes

 in favour and 25 against.

 

It means Australians are now one step closer to voting

 on creating an Indigenous Voice in parliament, in the

 country's first referendum since 1999.

 

The bill will now be sent to the Senate, where it is expected 

to be considered in June, by the government, before a poll 

date is set later this year.

 

The referendum could take place between the months 

of October and December If the Senate also approves 

the bill.

 

If successful, the referendum would change the constitution 

to recognize Australia's First Peoples by creating an

 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, also 

known as the Indigenous Voice or the Voice, 

as a body that advises the government

 and parliament on issues relating 

to Indigenous Australians.

 

In a tweet after the vote, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

 said, "Our Constitutional Alteration Bill has just passed

 the House of Representatives. We're one step closer 

to recognizing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 

people in our Constitution."

 

The vote in parliament coincided with more than 100

 Australian cultural and immigrant organizations

 joining to declare their support for the Voice.

 

Community organizations released a joint resolution

 calling on all Australians to work together, to 

ensure a successful referendum on 

the proposal.




 

___________________________________



Report: Youth Unemployment in
Greece Among Highest in EU

May 31st, 2:24pm (FNA)

 

 The youth unemployment rate in Greece

 is among the highest in the EU, the

 bloc’s statistical body said, 

onTuesday.

 

Accordingly, Ceuta, Spain’s enclave in Africa, has the 

highest youth unemployment with 42.4%, followed by

 Greece’s regions of Thessaly and Central Greece 

with 39.8% and 36.5% respectively, according to 

EUROSTAT, Anadolu news agency reported.

 

The average unemployment rate in the bloc is 11.3% 

but the lowest is recorded in the Central Bohemia 

region of the Czech Republic, at 1.7%.

 

 

____________________________________________


 


 


 


Venezuela Signs Cooperation


 Agreements With Brazil 


and Colombia


May 31st, 12:35pm 


(teleSUR)