Penrhys, Rhondda Page
A page telling the story of a unique magical village - Penrhys, in the Rhondda !
Poet's Page
music and opinion from Wales' wandering poet.
Rhondda Records Home Page
Rhondda Records is with you every day bringing the news ------- that gives a view of world events different to the mainstream media or social media!
Except Sundays - our day of rest.
Journalist:To end war ------
prosecute UK, US officials
who wage(d) it illegally
October 22nd, 10:12pm (PressTV)
The world must finally put an end to the impunity of war
criminals, by holding US and UK officials responsible
for launching the illegal war on Iraq, done without
the approval of the UN Security Council, and
prosecuting them --- under the Nuremberg
principles, US journalist Don DeBar said.
DeBar made the remarks in an interview with Press TV while
commenting on a report which has revealed that the British
military inquiries into abuse against Iraqi nationals... have
been closed without a single prosecution being brought,
even though the credibility of many "shocking and
shameful incidents" during the war in the Middle
Eastern country, have been confirmed.
British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said in a statement
this week that the Service Police Legacy Investigations,
which was looking at claims of abuse in Iraq, had now
"officially closed its doors."
In March 2003, the US and Britain invaded Iraq in blatant
violation of international law and under the pretext of
finding WMDs; but no such weapons were ever
discovered in Iraq.
More than one million Iraqis were killed - as the result of
the US-led invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq
--- according to the California-based investigative
organization, Project Censored.
The US war in Iraq cost US taxpayers $1.7 trillion with
an additional $490 billion in benefits owed to war veterans, expenses that could grow to more than $6 trillion over the next four decades counting interest, according to a study called Costs of War Project --- by the Watson Institute for
International Studies at Brown University.
DeBar told Press TV that the Iraq war
was illegal from the very beginning.
"It is illegal for a nation to make war on another nation if it
does not have the approval of the UN Security Council, if
any of those nations are signatories to the original UN
Charter. And it’s been adopted - that happened with
the US, as a charter member of the UN -- and it was
approved by the US Senate in the 1940s.
Consequently, the US involvement in Iraq from the beginning, and the UK involvement in Iraq from the beginning, was illegal,” he said.
“And under the Nuremberg standards, which would then
apply, each and every death consequent – intentional
or not - to either US or UK military action there, or
condoning of the US action there, by the media
or public officials, or any act facilitating that,
is an individual war crime. And, by the way,
there’s a death penalty for that,” the
journalist noted.
“No one will prosecute these people. That’s why I started
with the word impunity. And we might bookend with that
because that’s the problem. And until the world puts an
end to that impunity, until the world sees the major
contradiction in all international relations, is US,
UK, and EU imperialism, then it’s going to
continue until this eats our species,”
he stated.
A damning White House memo had revealed details of the
so-called “deal in blood” forged by former British Prime
Minister Tony Blair and US President George W. Bush
over the Iraq war.
The document, titled “Secret... Memorandum for the
President”, was sent by then-US Secretary of State
Colin Powell to President Bush on March 28th, 2002, a week before Bush’s summit with Blair at his Crawford ranch in Texas.
The sensational memo, revealed that Blair had agreed to
support the war a year before the invasion even started
while publicly, the British prime minister was working to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
The document also disclosed that Blair agreed to act as a
spin doctor for Bush and convince a skeptical public that
Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein had Weapons of Mass
Destruction, which actually did not exist.
In response, Bush would flatter Blair and give the
impression that London was not Washington’s
poodle but an equal partner in the
“special relationship.”
Powell told Bush that Blair “will be with us” on the
Iraq war, and assured the president that “"the UK
will follow our lead in the Middle East."
Blair has always denied the claim that he and Bush
signed a deal “in blood”, at Crawford, to launch a
war against Iraq that began on March 20th, 2003,
that has killed hundreds of thousands of people.
The Powell memo, however, showed how Blair and
Bush secretly prepared the Iraq war plot behind
closed doors at Crawford.
Powell told Bush: “He will present to you the strategic,
tactical and public affairs lines, that he believes will
strengthen global support for our common cause.”
Venezuela: Vice President - calls
on PDVSA workers-- to be alert
December 13th, 11:58am
(Prensa Latina)
The executive vice president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez,
called the workers of the oil sector, gas and petrochemical
companies to remain alert to any attempt at sabotage or
digital warfare, it was reported here today.
During a videoconference with the working class of the state
company Petróleos de Venezuela SA. (PDVSA), the vice
president transmitted guidelines from President
Nicolás Maduro, to maintain firmness and
willingness.... in the defense of peace,
tranquility, and territorial integrity,
for the protection of the industry.
Rodríguez urged on her Telegram account - to increase
surveillance on two fundamental fronts: the physical
security of the facilities and the cyber protection
of operations.
She pointed out that the assault on a ship with 1,900,000
barrels of oil in the Caribbean Sea to steal Venezuelan
fuel is barbaric - by Donald Trump's Government and
an illicit act -- violating international conventions
that can only generate indignation and shame
before the world.
The Minister for Hydrocarbons affirmed that the Bolivarian
Executive has “solid contingency plans” -- designed to
safeguard the production and export of Venezuelan
oil, one of the largest reserves in the world, faced
with recent acts of aggression and “state piracy”.
She assured ---- that her government is prepared to
defend the oil industry and its strategic resources.
The vice president stressed - that they've worked on
contingency plans -- to guarantee that “our oil can
be exported safely and reach the final market,
be it China ----- or any other market».
In her message, Rodríguez recognized the commitment of
the oil, gas and petrochemical workers -- and assured
that “they have not stopped us, nor will they stop
us, united we will win - and Venezuela will
continue to march, to guarantee the
well-being and progress of
the nation”.
Last Wednesday, the Venezuelan Government demanded
that the International Maritime Organization (IMO)
--- activate all the international channels and
mechanisms -- that guarantee freedom
of navigation and maritime trade.
Rodríguez revealed that she then had a telephone conversation
with the executive secretary of the IMO, Arsenio Domínguez,
to whom she transmitted a formal complaint about the oil
tanker attacked in the Caribbean Sea --- by US troops.
“The real truth ---- is that they want our oiland
they want it without paying”, she denounced.
_____________________________________
Cuban Foreign Minister disqualifies
Nobel Peace Prize Committee
December 13th, 9:47am
(Prensa Latina)
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, speaking from
Havana, criticized the Nobel Peace Prize committee,
which awards prizes to US allies and like-
minded governments.
On his Twitter account, Rodriguez noted -- that its members are
appointed by the politically aligned parliament of a NATO state, adding, “The #NobelPeacePrize becomes a prize for docile US
allies and a platform ----- for criticizing governments that are
inconvenient for the US.”
In a lengthy message, the Foreign Minister, drawing on his
experience of the island’s more than six decades of US
blockade, questioned how, conversely, the committee
excludes the repeated, well-deserved nominations
of the Cuban Medical Brigades.
“They speak in the name of ‘Peace,’ but remain silent in the face
of the aggressive actions of the US against Venezuela and
ignore the economic war and the hate campaign against
a country that sends doctors, not bombs or marines,”
argued the head of Cuban diplomacy.
The Caribbean nation’s foreign minister denounced
the complicity of the awards ------- with actions
completely opposed to peace.
In this regard, he mentioned those awarded to Henry Kissinger,
Shimon Peres, and the most recent one promoted by the US
Secretary of State, who is desperately urging to launch a
military invasion of Venezuela.
“This double standard disqualifies their
lectures on democracy,” he asserted.
People hold up a banner as they protest
against Israel at the entrance of the
International Criminal Court
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Despite -- Being Previously Inspected
by UNIFIL, Israeli Enemy Threatens
to Strike House in South Lebanon
December 13th, 3:57pm
(al Manar)
On Saturday, the Israeli enemy threatened to strike a house
that was previously inspected by UNIFIL, at the request of
the Mechanism committee - proven to be free of weapons.
The Israeli enemy army issued what it called an “evacuation
order” for a house in the southern Lebanese town of
Yanouh, in Tyre District.
Al-Manar correspondent in south Lebanon reported that the
building threatened by the enemy.... was previously
inspected by UNIFIL - and the Lebanese Army -
at the request of the Mechanism committee.
The structure lies near a UNIFIL barracks and was proven to
be free of weapons according to the approved procedure
our correspondent confirmed.
The reporter then said that the Lebanese
Army entered the threatened house.
A Lebanese Army patrol.. headed for the threatened house.
Army soldiers deployed to the area, while a force entered
the house without UNIFIL escort, whose members left
the area after the enemy announced its threat,
according to our correspondent.
The Israeli enemy continues to bomb Lebanon, mainly the
country’s south, almost daily and maintains occupation
over five posts along the southern border, in violation
of a ceasefire deal reached following a brutal 66-
day Israeli war ----- between September and
November 2024.
Source: Al-Manar English Website
________________________________________
Sheikh Qassem: Hezbollah Will Never
Be Disarmed, Surrender Spells
the End of Lebanon
December 13th, 3:54pm
(al Manar)
Sheikh Naim Qassem, Secretary General of Hezbollah,
delivered a firm declaration -- rejecting any attempt
to disarm the resistance, framing such efforts as
a direct extension of the Israeli occupation
entity’s strategic objectives ------- and a
threat to Lebanon’s very existence.
“Let the United States know: we will defend ourselves
--- even if the heavens collapse upon the earth. The
weapons will not be taken to serve Israeli goals,
even if the entire world unites in war against
Lebanon,” Sheikh Qassem said.
His remarks were made during Hezbollah’s Fatimi gathering,
organized by the Women’s Work Unit to mark the birth
anniversary of Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her),
held under the theme “We Shall Keep
the Covenant.”
He stressed that land, arms, and the national spirit form a
single, indivisible equation. “Any attempt to remove or
even touch one is an assault on all three. That -----
would amount to the erasure of our existence,
and we will not permit it,” he said.
Sheikh Qassem added that Hezbollah’s stance represents
“the most honorable national stance,” one that requires
no validation from figures “with records steeped in
crime, sedition, or corruption.” He underscored
the resistance’s record, noting: that it has
liberated occupied land, demonstrated
steadfastness, deterred the enemy,
and thwarted an invasion of
Lebanon - during the First
Battle of Determination.
Sheikh Qassem warned of existential consequences if
Lebanon submits. “If we are killed, our blood will
sprout. If Lebanon surrenders, its history is
erased, and its future disappears. Under
Israel, neither Muslims nor Christians
have a place in Lebanon.”
His Eminence criticized attempts to weaken the resistance
while keeping the Lebanese army minimally armed. “The
project is extremely dangerous. They want to weaken
the resistance while leaving the army only symbolic
strength, leaving Lebanon powerless.”
Sheikh Qassem also criticized the government concessions
in negotiations. “Have you not heard the US ambassador
say that talks are one matter and ongoing aggression
is another? This logic is clear: negotiations are
independent, which means the aggression
continues. What then is the purpose
of these talks?”
He urged the Lebanese state to reconsider its approach.
“Implement the agreement first, then discuss defense
strategy. Do not ask us not to defend ourselves ---
while the state fails to protect its citizens.
Secure sovereignty and protection, and
then we will place everything on the
table --- for a strategic dialogue.”
Exclusive Armament Is a US-Israeli Demand;
Surrender Means Lebanon’s End
Sheikh Qassem condemned the notion that exclusive state
control of weapons ...would strengthen Lebanon. “The
demand for exclusive arms in its current form is an
American-Israeli agenda. Under their logic, it
would destroy Lebanon’s strength.”
His Eminence identified the state’s real challenges as
“sanctions and rampant corruption,” noting that
these pressures, originating from US policy
since 2019, aim to destabilize Lebanon
and prevent autonomous action.
Additionally, His Eminence criticized some Lebanese officials
advocating the US-Israeli arms agenda, describing them as
“agents of sedition and corruption” unfit to speak on
national defense. “The Israeli enemy threatens.
Their only solution is surrender, which would
place Lebanon under direct Israeli control.
With surrender, Lebanon ceases to exist,
just as Syria’s situation - warns us. Do
not be fooled: surrender leads to
Lebanon’s end.”
Sheikh Qassem addressed threats against Lebanon directly:
“If they threaten us, should we submit and sit silently? Do
we remain passive? No. We defend, persevere, and
stand firm. Surrender leaves nothing; resistance
opens the path to possibilities.”
Resistance Foiled Israeli Plan to Eradicate It
Sheikh Qassem recalled that the Israeli enemy - aimed to eliminate
Hezbollah through assassination and military strikes. “The enemy
sought to destroy Hezbollah entirely --- but in the First Battle of
Determination, we prevented them from achieving this goal.”
His Eminence added that the Zionist army’s gains in Lebanon, are
eroding. “It has not succeeded in its objectives. The presence of
the resistance ensures life. With our unity and steadfastness,
war may be avoided. Israel’s local agents encourage it, but
even if war occurs, it will not achieve its goals.”
In addition, His Eminence underscored US influence over Israeli
military decisions: “If America acts in its own interests in
Lebanon, it will seek a solution. If it prioritizes Israel
over Lebanon, then Lebanon has no future. Israel
does not go to war -------- without US approval.”
Post-Ceasefire: Lebanon now Enters a New
Stage; State -- Responsible for Sovereignty
“Following the ceasefire agreement, Lebanon has entered a
new stage requiring different responsibilities. The state is
now responsible for sovereignty, protecting Lebanon,
expelling the occupation, and deploying the army.
The resistance has fulfilled its part in
implementing the agreement, and
assisting the Lebanese state,”
His Eminence highlighted.
Sheikh Qassem also warned against returning to pre-agreement
frameworks. “Any argument based on the period before the
ceasefire has no value. We must judge the new phase.
Lebanon is implementing its side fully, while the
Israeli enemy ---- has not taken any steps
to comply.”
His Eminence viewed ongoing Israeli actions as
a continuation of aggression, posing dangers
to both Lebanon and the resistance.
State, Army, and Resistance Share Responsibility
Sheikh Qassem emphasized that while the resistance
remains committed.... to sacrifice and continuity,
preventing aggression is the responsibility
of the state and the army, not
Hezbollah alone.
“Deterrence ------ which stops aggression and protects
against enemy actions, is a state and army function.
The resistance will not accept any framework that
leads to surrender.”
Sheikh Qassem further emphasized that the role of the
resistance --- is to support the state and the army, to
liberate occupied land, and to confront the enemy
when the state or the army is unable to do so.
He stressed that the resistance’s mission is “to provide
support, prevent the enemy from consolidating its
presence - and contribute to liberation,” while
affirming that the protection of Lebanon “is
fundamentally -- the responsibility of the
political authority, not the resistance
...at the outset.”
“If the army is unable to provide protection, do we then demand
that its weapons be taken away? No. If it is unable to protect,
we demand ------- that its arsenal be strengthened. If the
resistance has not achieved protection and the
Israeli enemy advances ---- do we call for
stripping it of its strength? Or do we
make use of that strength --- to
support the army, and the
state... in confronting
the occupier?”
Sheikh Qassem affirmed that the resistance is prepared for
the highest level of cooperation with the Lebanese Army,
noting that it has already assisted in extending state
authority and remains open to a national defense
strategy that harnesses Lebanon’s full
strength, including that of
the resistance.
Women in Resistance: Pillars of Honour and Lebanon’s Future
Sheikh Naim Qassem highlighted the central role of women in
Hezbollah and the resistance, praising their contributions to
the struggle, society, and the future generations upbringing.
Speaking at Hezbollah’s Fatimi gathering organized by the
Women’s Work Unit, he described Lady Fatimah (peace
be upon her) ....as the model for women worldwide
and the guiding inspiration for the movement.
“Women in our society —— daughters, mothers, wives, and
grandmothers are banners of honour, ethics, resistance,
and patriotism. You are partners in shaping Lebanon’s
future and nurturing the next generations. Your role
in the resistance and in family life - sustains the
sacrifices of martyrs and the wounded.”
His Eminence stressed - that women must remain active in
all spheres, uphold faith and moral integrity, and lead by
example, with the hijab as a symbol of piety and
steadfastness. Sheikh Qassem concluded by
reaffirming the importance of women’s
continued engagement in building
Lebanon’s future -- within the
framework of Hezbollah
and the resistance.
Source: Al-Manar Website
__________________________________________
UN Report: Settlement Expansion
in West Bank Reaches Highest
Recorded Levels
December 13th, 1:54pm
(al Manar)
The United Nations announced that Israeli settlement expansion in
the occupied West Bank has reached a record high this year since
UN monitoring began in 2017 ------- according to a report issued by
Secretary-General António Guterres.
Guterres stressed that these developments further entrench
the Israeli occupation and violate international law and the
Palestinian right to self-determination.
In relation to the settlement expansion, Farhan Haq, Deputy
Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, reported that
over 1,000 Palestinians - have been displaced - since the
start of this year, in Area C of the occupied West Bank.
Citing UN data, Haq explained that Area C comprises approximately
60 percent of the West Bank and is an area where Israel maintains
near-total control over law enforcement, planning, & construction.
This scale of displacement marks the second-highest annual
rate recorded by the UN .....since 2009.
Source: Al-Manar English Website
_____________________________________
Al-Sudani Receives UN’s Guterres:
Iraq Emerged Victorious
over Terrorism
December 13th, 1:53pm
(al Manar)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani received
UN Secretary General António Guterres on Saturday,
as he said that Iraq emerged victorious over
terrorism ---- thanks to the sacrifices of i
ts people.
In a joint press conference with Guterres in Baghdad,
Al-Sudani said the last parliamentary elections were
“the most organized.”
He hailed the UN over its role in Iraq, noting that the
culmination of UN Assistance Mission in Iraq’s
(UNAMI) mandate does not mean the end
of UN-Iraq cooperation.
“We look forward to establishing relations with the United
Nations based on the foundations of partnership,”
Al-Sudani said ---- in the conference with
the UN chief.
The Iraqi premier officially requested in May, that the UN
conclude UNAMI’s mission in Iraq ---- by December 2025.
For his part, Guterres said that “Iraq is a land of civilization,
history, and humanity, and we have witnessed its courage,
steadfastness & determination - in overcoming terrorism,
foreign interference, and sectarianism.”
“UNAMI’s mission in Iraq helped in reconstruction after
decades of war, and our goal -- was to support Iraq in
its efforts to restore stability,” the UN S.G. continued.
“With the closure of the mission, there will remain vital
human development agencies, and we stand with Iraq
to build a prosperous and stable country.”
Guterres arrived in Baghdad on Saturday. Following a brief
delay due to poor weather conditions, Guterres landed in
Baghdad in the afternoon, where he was received at
the airport by Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein.
The Iraqi top diplomat stressed his government’s appreciation
“for the role played by the United Nations and UNAMI
in supporting Iraq during the previous stages,”
according to a statement by the Iraqi
foreign ministry.
Source: Agencies (translated
and edited by Al-Manar)
_______________________________________
Occupation Forces Advance into Quneitra
Countryside-------- Amid Local Rejection
December 13th, 10:53am
(al Manar)
Israeli occupation forces conducted an incursion into the
village of Saida al-Hanout in the southern Quneitra
countryside - this morning. Syrian sources
reported that an Israeli military force,
of eight vehicles established a
checkpoint at the village’s
main entrance.
A contingent then proceeded into the
village ----- to search several homes.
Local sources indicated that residents refused the
occupation forces’ offer of food aid and declined
to answer questions posed by the soldiers
regarding the situation in Syria.
An Israeli patrol also advanced into the vicinity
of the village of Ain Ziwan in Quneitra and
established a temporary checkpoint
in the area.
Yesterday, the occupation forces released two Palestinians
they had arrested while passing through a checkpoint they
had erected between the town of Umm Batna and the
village of al-Ajraf. Last night ------ an Israeli patrol
consisting of six military vehicles advanced
.....into the villages of al-Samdaniyah
al-Gharbiyah and al-Samdaniyah
al-Sharqiyah in the northern
Quneitra countryside.
The Israeli occupation forces continue their aggressive policies
and violations of the agreement. The 1974 disengagement
agreement was violated ------- through incursions into the
rural areas of Quneitra and Daraa governorates and
attacks on civilians, while Syria -- continuously --
renews its demand ---- for the implementation
of UN resolutions - and an end to the Israeli
occupation of Syrian territories, calling on
the international community - to assume
its responsibilities - in deterring these
illegal practices.
Source: SANA (edited by
Al-Manar English Website)
________________________________________
Gaza: Occupation Forces Demolish Buildings
Amid Artillery Shelling East of Khan Younis
December 13th, 9:52am
(al Manar)
The Israeli occupation army carried out building demolitions
in the early hours of Saturday, alongside intense artillery
shelling --- targeting areas east of Khan Younis in the
southern Gaza Strip.
Simultaneously, Israeli warplanes conducted a series of
airstrikes on eastern Khan Younis, the city of Rafah in
the south, and the Al-Tuffah neighbourhood in Gaza
City. Artillery fire also targeted the eastern part
of central Gaza.
In a separate incident, a young man, Muhammad Sabri
Al-Adham, was shot and martyred by the Israeli
occupation army in Jabalia Al-Nazla, in the
northern Gaza Strip.
Gaza Bears the Brunt of Storm,
Siege, and Continued Attacks
Amid the military assault, a severe storm has compounded
the humanitarian crisis. Media reports - that rainwater has
mixed with sewage, creating a major health catastrophe
and raising grave concerns ....over the rapid spread of
waterborne diseases.
The storm has claimed the lives of 16 Palestinians, including 3
children, following the collapse of homes previously damaged
by Israeli attacks. This further exacerbates the suffering of
the besieged population.
Media reports added that the Israeli occupation continues to
tighten pressure on Gaza, neglecting its obligations under
humanitarian protocols ------- and leaving Palestinians
without essential support or aid.
Extensive flooding.... has inundated entire camps in the Al-Mawasi
area of Khan Younis. Significant damage was also reported in Al-
Bassa and Al-Baraka in Deir al-Balah, the central market in
Nuseirat, and the Yarmouk and port areas of Gaza City.
Source: Palestinian media (edited and
translated by Al-Manar English Website)
___________________________________________
Hezbollah MP Hits Back at LF Minister:
Diplomatic Efforts..... Don’t Mean
Justifying Israeli Attacks
December 13th, 8:52am
(al Manar)
Member of Hezbollah’s Loyalty to Resistance bloc at
the Lebanese Parliament MP Hussein Al-Hajj Hasan
responded to Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef
Rajji, who represents the Lebanese Forces (LF)
in the Lebanese Government, stressing that
diplomatic efforts -- don’t mean justifying
the Israeli enemy attacks.
In remarks to Lebanese media, MP Al-Hajj Hasan hit back
at Rajji, who warned of earlier on Friday against a “large
-scale military operation” against Lebanon, calling on
the LF minister to activate his diplomatic efforts...
away from justifying the Israeli enemy strikes.
“As for the diplomatic efforts that His Excellency the Minister
speaks of to avoid the strike, the least that can be expected
--------- is that he does not adopt the US-Israeli narrative in
justifying the Israeli attacks,” the Hezbollah
lawmaker stated.
He called on Rajji to activate the Lebanese diplomatic missions
to explain to the world that Lebanon has adhered to the
November 2024 ceasefire - unlike the Israeli enemy
- which violated the ceasefire deal and is still
launching daily attacks on Lebanon.
Meanwhile, MP Al-Hajj Hasan slammed the LF minister over
his remarks regarding protecting the Lebanese official
institutions from the Israeli attacks.
“One particularly notable point in the minister’s statement is
his call to protect the official institutions, as if he were
justifying Israeli attacks on other Lebanese citizens.
In my opinion, this is completely wrong. We are in
favour of protecting all of Lebanon from Israeli
aggression, not protecting only a segment of
the Lebanese population ..while tolerating
Israeli aggression.”
“Today, by the way, there was an Israeli aggression on the South,
and His Excellency the Minister was making statements. He
could have mentioned in his statements that today there
were Israeli strikes on a number of villages in southern
Lebanon. Apparently, he was unaware of it; his office
did not inform him........... that there was an Israeli
aggression today.”
Meanwhile, MP Al-Hajj Hasan reminded Rajji of achievements
made by Hezbollah resistance in 2000, 2006 and against
Takfiri terrorists in 2017.
“The Minister did not liberate the South; rather, it was the
resistance’s weapons that liberated the South in 2000,
at a time when the Minister and his party were on a
different path. This achievement ----- cannot be
attributed to the Minister or his party ----- nor
can the heroic confrontation in the 33-day
war in 2006, nor the Second Liberation
in 2017, where the Minister and his
party ----- were supporting and
siding with the Takfiris.”
Source: Al-Manar English Website
____________________________________
UN General Assembly ------Adopts Resolution
Urging Israeli Enemy to Allow Aid Into Gaza
December 12th, 7:33pm
(al Manar)
The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution calling
on the Israeli occupation to comply with the International
Court of Justice’s ruling --------- and allow the delivery of
humanitarian aid into Gaza.
The resolution requires the Israeli occupation entity to
provide food, water, medicine, and shelter to Gaza’s
population and prohibits any obstruction of relief
operations in the besieged territory.
The General Assembly stressed that the measure also urges
Israel to halt the displacement and starvation of civilians
and to refrain from restricting the work of the United
Nations. It further reaffirms the UN’s responsibility
toward the Palestinian cause --------- until a
comprehensive solution is achieved.
The vote comes as the Israeli occupation army continues
to violate the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and impede
the flow of aid that was stipulated under the accord.
Humanitarian Catastrophe Intensifies
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has escalated amid ongoing
Israeli aggression and a severe winter storm. The Ministry
of Health reported 4 deaths and 10 injuries in the past
24 hours, warning that numbers may rise due to
victims still trapped under rubble - and in the
streets. Since the ceasefire on October 11,
2025, 383 Palestinians have been killed
and 1,002 injured --- while the total toll
of the Israeli assault since October 7,
2023 --- stands at 70,373 dead and
171,079 injured, with 627 bodies
recovered from under debris.
The harsh cold has claimed 11 additional lives, including
infants and children --- due to the lack of heating in
ruined homes and tents. Thousands of families
face severe exposure, and the winter storm
has worsened the situation - causing
multiple fatalities from collapsed
homes and flooded shelters.
Emergency teams have documented at least ten house
collapses in recent hours, with ongoing evacuations
in northern Gaza areas, including Sheikh Radwan
and Al-Karama.
West Bank Tensions Continue
Meanwhile ----- Israeli forces stormed the town of Tuqu’,
southeast of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank,
highlighting the widening scope of military
operations ------- affecting Palestinian
communities beyond Gaza.
Source: Al-Manar Website
Today, December 13th, in 1903,
Ella Baker,
a socialist, and civil rights and human rights activist,
is born.
She was a largely behind-the-scenes organizer whose career
spanned more than five decades, including a lot of work
with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.
She worked alongside some of the most famous civil rights
leaders of the 20th century, including W. E. B. Du Bois,
Thurgood Marshall, A. Philip Randolph, and Martin
Luther King Jr.
She also mentored many emerging activists, such as
Diane Nash, Stokely Carmichael, and Rosa Parks.
From 1962 to 1967... Baker worked as the staff of the Southern
Conference Education Fund (SCEF). Its goal was to help black
and white people work together for social justice; the
interracial desegregation and human rights group
was based in the South.
In 1964 Baker helped organize the Mississippi Freedom
Democratic Party (MFDP) as an alternative to the all-
white Mississippi Democratic Party. She worked as
coordinator of the Washington office of the MFDP
and accompanied a delegation of the MFDP to
the 1964 National Democratic Party
convention in Atlantic City,
New Jersey.
The group wanted the national party to affirm the rights of
African Americans to participate in party elections in the
South, where they were still largely disenfranchised.
When MFDP delegates challenged the pro-segregationist,
all-white official delegation, a major conflict ensued.
The MFDP delegation was not seated, but their
influence on the Democratic Party later
helped to elect many black leaders
in Mississippi.
They forced a rule change - to allow women and minorities
to sit as delegates at the Democratic National Convention.
SCEF --- raised funds for black activists, lobbied to implement
President John F. Kennedy's civil rights proposals, and tried
to educate southern whites about the evils of racism.
Federal civil rights legislation was passed by
Congress and signed by President Lyndon
B. Johnson in 1964 and 1965, but its
implementation......... took years.
In SCEF, Baker worked closely with her friend Anne Braden,
a white longtime anti-racist activist, who believed that
socialism, the transitory phase toward communism,
was a humane alternative to capitalism.
She became a staunch defender of Braden and her husband Carl; and encouraged SNCC to reject red-baiting as divisive and unfair.
SNCC -- became the most active organization in the deeply
oppressed Mississippi Delta. It was more open to women
than the other prominent Civil Rights organizations,
including the SCLC.
Widespread sexism and appeals to male supremacy -
pervaded SCLC's membership. Baker resigned from
the SCLC and began a long close relationship
with the SNCC.
Along with Howard Zinn, she was one of SNCC's
highly revered adult advisors, known as the
"Godmother of the SNCC".
During the 1960s, Baker participated in a speaking tour and
co-hosted several meetings on the importance of linking
civil rights and civil liberties.
In 1967 Baker returned to New York City, where she continued
her activism. She later collaborated with Arthur Kinoy and
others to form the Mass Party Organizing Committee, a
socialist organization.
In 1972 - she traveled the country in support of the "Free Angela"
campaign, demanding the release of activist and writer Angela
Davis, who had been imprisoned on charges of kidnapping
and murder in the Marin County Civic Center attacks.
after a global campaign, Davis was acquitted.
Baker also supported the Puerto Rican independence movement
and spoke out against apartheid in South Africa. She allied with
a number of women's groups, including the 3rd World Women's
Alliance and the Women's International League for Peace
and Freedom.
She remained an activist until her death on December 13th, 1986 - her 83rd birthday.
"You didn't see me on television, you didn't see news stories
about me, The kind of role that I tried to play, was to pick
up pieces or put together pieces, out of which I hoped
organization might come. My theory is ---- strong
people don't need strong leaders."
''Remember, we are not fighting for the freedom of
the Negro alone, but for the freedom of the
human spirit, a larger freedom that
encompasses all mankind.''
''Until the killing of black men, black mothers' sons,
becomes as important to the rest of the country
as the killing of a white mother's son, we
who believe in freedom cannot rest
until this happens.''
(said in 1964)
Israeli universities -------- face
growing academic isolation
despite Gaza ceasefire,
report says
November 25th, 8:39am (PressTV)
The academic boycott of Israeli universities in Europe has
doubled, even after the Gaza ceasefire aimed at ending
the occupying regime’s genocidal war against the
besieged Gaza Strip.... a move that further
isolates Tel Aviv --- in global higher
education, a new report says.
The Academic Boycott of Israel Monitoring Team, created by
the Committee of University Presidents in Tel Aviv, said in a
report on Monday that academic boycotts targeting the
regime have surged, with around 1,000 cases
reported in Europe by November.
It stressed that Israel’s negative image, which has persisted even
after the ceasefire over the genocidal war against Gaza -- is “so
deeply entrenched that political moves alone are not enough
to shift public perception.”
Contrary to expectations that the boycott would ease following the
ceasefire, the report notes that “the opposite occurred,” with
institutions and individual academics more frequently
filing boycott cases.
The monitoring team, whose report was published by The Marker,
the economic version of the Hebrew newspaper Haaretz ---- also
warned that this expanding boycott could isolate Israeli higher
education significantly and pose a long-term strategic threat
to its international standing.
The report further identified concrete consequences for the move,
including a drop in EU Horizon Europe research grants for Israeli
scholars, exclusion from international cooperation projects,
and a breakdown in collaborative programs.
The Association of University Heads in Israel has reportedly
recorded over 1,000 incidents of academic boycotts over
the last two years, three times the total as of a year ago.
According to the report, 57 percent of cases involve individual
researchers (mainly being excluded from research groups),
22 percent are institutional severances, seven percent
are from professional associations, and 14 percent
relate to halted student exchanges or
postdoctoral partnerships.
It also said that this crippling boycott trend --- is unlikely to reverse
soon without “major regional and geopolitical changes,” warning
that sustained isolation of Israeli academia may continue.
The boycott movement “will accompany Israeli academia for
a long time and will not ease without major regional and
geopolitical changes,” the report noted.
Israel has killed nearly 70,000 Palestinians, most of them women
and children, and injured over 170,900 others in Gaza since
October 7, 2023, according to Gaza's Health Ministry,
when it launched a brutal war against the
Palestinian territory.
Despite a ceasefire announced in October,
Israel continues to target Gaza -------
in violation of the agreement.
Hamas has urged the guarantors of the ceasefire, namely Qatar,
Turkey, Egypt, and the United States, to press Israel to abide
by the deal ---- and stop its attacks on Gaza.
The world and her daughter are calling for a boycott of the genocidal colonial apartheid state of Israel.
Place yourself on the right side of joy and sorrow by joining the world's boycott - say ''no'' to evil!
Keir Hardie - Britain's first Labour MP - opposedWorld War One.
His namesake is stammering his way in the opposite direction.
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
ROGER WATERS TO MUSICIANS:- "BOYCOTT ISRAEL"
Roger Waters formerly of Pink Floyd, in an open letter, calls on his fellow musicians --- to boycott the Zionist Israeli regime and follow the example of the cultural boycott against the ex S. African Apartheid regime.
“Given the inability or unwillingness of our governments [to act] …. I write to you now, my brothers and sisters … to ask you to join with me, & thousands of other artists around the world, to declare a cultural boycott on Israel,” Roger Waters says in his letter.
Waters says the Zionist regime has been found guilty of major breaches of human rights and international law by international organizations, UN officials and the International Court of Justice.
He touches on two such cases, saying the regime has been identified as perpetrating the “crime of Apartheid”, including in a statement on March 9th, 2012 by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and the “crime of ethnic cleansing” including in East Jerusalem (al-Quds).
Waters adds that he has been a member of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against the Israeli regime’s occupation of the Palestinian lands and Tel Aviv’s violations of Palestinian human rights for 7 years, and now wants other musicians to also join the anti-Israeli front.
“Please join me and all our brothers and sisters in global civil society in proclaiming our rejection of Apartheid in Israel & occupied Palestine, by pledging not to perform or exhibit in Israel or accept any award or funding from any institution linked to the government of Israel, until such time as Israel complies with international law and universal principles of human rights.”
The former Pink Floyd Musician also says he has recently faced a boycott by the US media after his November 29th, 2012 address at the UN on behalf of the Russell Tribunal.
In the address, he sought accountability for the Zionist regime’s violations of the international law and the lack of United Nations resolve that prevents the Palestinian people from achieving their inalienable rights, especially the right of self-determination.
____________________
AT THE FACTORY
Tickets from
www.wegottickets.com/thefactory
www.ticketweb.co.uk
browse venues in Wales
www.ticketlineuk.com
02920 230130
Cash tickets from:
The Factory, Porth Instrumental Music, Penygraig Spillers Records, Cardiff
Indulge in a delicious cake and a cup of tea while enjoying music and sing-along songs from fantastic Welsh musicians.
Ticket information:
The Cultural Services Booking & Information Line:
08000 147 111 or book online at
www.rct-arts.co.ukÂÂ
*************************************************
Mid Rhondda Modelling Club...
7pm - 9pm
Tonyrefail Comprehensive School Mid Rhondda Modelling Club
has been running for over 30 years.
We meet on a regular basis
& enjoy making models for display.
We encourage both Gentlemen
and Ladies to attend, and also young people aged 12+.
However, Young people under 16, must be accompanied by an adult.
Ticket information
£1 contribution every week. Under 16's free
Telephone Mr. Davies on 01443 686658
************************************************
Comedy In The Laughter Lounge
The Park & Dare Theatre, Treorchy.
COMEDY IN THE LAUGHTER LOUNGE
Join us once a month in the intimate setting of the Laughter Lounge for some top notch comedy with some of the biggest and brightest rising comedians on the circuit.
Laugh? You'll snort like a pig!
Hilarious - TimeOut.
www.rct-arts.co.uk
Rhondda Records exists to express the Rhondda's vision --- when it was confident, powerful, caring, and socialist.
A Rhondda very aware of the media's poisonous tricks -- how they con working class people into attacking each other, or racial groups, or, often, even their best allies and friends... instead of seeing their real enemies:--- an elite who hate the very idea that working people can think, create, or achieve a fairer society.
Thatcher said her proudest achievement was Blair and New Labour - who parachuted in careerists and expenses fiddlers - to stop local Labour members having a say, and who made genuine socialist MPs leave the Labour party in disgust and many members and voters to despair... and the young to stop voting.
Jeremy Corbyn was always attacked because he was trying to reverse all that New Labour corruption --- that's why membership was flooding in all over the UK.
______________________________________
Get Involved!
– If you feel you’ve been ‘purged’, take this online survey:
– Request all your own data that the Labour Party holds on you:
http://www.labour.org.uk/pages/privacy
_______________________________________
IF - YOU THINK you HAVE BEEN UNFAIRLY BARRED:
“Any member who is suspended & intends to appeal the decision should throw in a ‘Subject Access Request in accordance with the Data Protection Act’ --- for ALL data that the Labour Party hold on them.
The Labour Party are Data Controllers and therefore have to, by law, provide you with all material/information they hold on you.”
If anyone is in contact with anyone who was barred from voting --- please can you pass this info on:
The Labour leadership election was under the jurisdiction of the electoral reform services.
If you were unfairly deprived of your vote you can call them on 0208 365 8909 and lodge your complaint, and inform them of your Data Protection request.
https://www.electoralreform.co.uk
The notification letters barring new members did not give a clear reason, or information on how to appeal, so Vox Political suggests that anyone in this situation, could also contact Liz Davies here: http://www.whycantivote.com
She is a barrister --- who can advise members on what to do.
**************************************
PONCY LABOUR MPS PROBLEM?
A huge drop in working-class Labour MPs, caused a massive drop in support among voters with similar backgrounds, reveals research seeking to explain why support has dwindled in the party’s heartlands.
The study says past leaders like Kinnock and Blair made a concerted effort to pick “more and more middle-class candidates to run for office, during the 80s and 90s, as part of an effort to rebrand” -- which had initial successes at the ballot box.
But this “conscious electoral strategy” stored up problems, as working-class voters who initially, just didn’t vote in response, now seek an alternative.
The solution?Trust each constituency to put forward its own candidates, and don't impose ‘party-approved’ choices who can't do the job.
Now, unfortunately, there are "entryist" MPs who, for decades, have been groomed by CIA cold war relic organisations -- like the Atlantic Council -- and are now trying to misdirect the Labour Party towards cuts, a militarised police, and a US war agenda... - and their anti-Corbyn slant is hobbling Labour.
‘How Can I Deselect My Labour MP?’ A Short Guide to Reselection and Democratic Accountability by Eric Sim, excellent free advice here:
http://novaramedia.com/2016/07/13/how-can-i- deselect-my-labour-mp-a-short-guide-to- reselection-and-democratic-accountability/ CHRIS BRYANT - SUPPORT THE MEMBERS' LEADERSHIP CHOICE & POLICIES - OR GO!
Chris Bryant, the Rhondda's dodgy MP, was on TV -- as soon as the PLP coup started -- telling us that Jeremy MUST go, because it was the ONLY way to act in the Labour Party's interest...
Chris Bryant's voting record: from TheyWorkForYou.com
On Tuition Fees:
On 27 Jan 2004: Chris Bryant voted in favour of university tuition fees increasing from £1,125 per year, to up to £3,000 per year.
On 31 Mar 2004: Chris Bryant voted to allow university tuition fees to increase from £1,125 per year, to up to £3,000 per year.
On 31 Mar 2004: Chris Bryant voted for the introduction of variable university tuition fees (top-up fees) of up to £3,000 per year in place of the previous fixed fee of £1,250 per year.
On 31 Mar 2004: Chris Bryant voted to allow university tuition fees to increase from £1,125 per year to up to £3,000 per year, and to make other changes to higher education funding and regulation arrangements.
On 14 Sep 2004: Chris Bryant voted against: the immediate abolition of all tuition fees, the re-introduction of maintenance grants of up to £2,000 for students from low-income homes, and changes to the country's higher education system.
On 14 Sep 2004: Chris Bryant voted to reject the Liberal Democrat policy of abolition of tuition fees.
On 25 May 2016: Chris Bryant was absent for a vote on Queen's Speech - Forcing Schools to Become Academies - Further Rises in University Tuition Fees
On Human Rights:
Consistently voted for introducing ID cards
Almost always voted for requiring the mass retention of information about communications
Generally voted for mass surveillance of people’s communications and activities
On the Environment:
Generally voted against greater regulation of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to extract shale gas
On Special Interests:
Almost always voted against limits on success fees paid to lawyers in no-win no fee cases
Generally voted against a statutory register of lobbyists
On War or Peace:
Generally voted for use of UK military forces in combat operations overseas
Consistently voted for the Iraq war
Consistently voted against an investigation into the Iraq war
Generally voted for replacing Trident with a new nuclear weapons system
On 2 Dec 2015: Voted to support UK airstrikes in Syria [without UN authorisation]
On 2 Dec 2015: Voted to support UK airstrikes in Syria [without UN authorisation]
On Independence:
Generally voted for more EU integration
____________________________
Chris Bryant Labour MP From Wikipedia
(aka 1962-1986: Mr Christopher John Bryant 1986-1991: The Reverend Christopher John Bryant, 1991-2001: Mr Christopher John Bryant, 2001-: Mr Christopher John Bryant MP.)
Born in Cardiff, to a Scottish mother & a Welsh father, Bryant grew up in Cardiff, Wales (where his father worked for 5 years), and Cheltenham.
He was educated at Cheltenham College, an independent school for boys in the spa town of Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, where he was captain of the school swimming team, and Mansfield College at the University of Oxford, where he graduated in 1983, with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in English. This was later promoted to a Master of Arts degree (MA (Oxon)), as per tradition.
After completing his first degree, Bryant began training to be a priest in the Church of England at Ripon College, Cuddesdon, in Oxfordshire. There, he obtained a degree in theology.
Although a member of the Conservative Party, and an elected office-holder in the Oxford University Conservative Association, he joined the Labour Party in 1986, after leaving Oxford.
He was ordained deacon in 1986 and priest in 1987. He served as a Curate at the Church of All Saints, High Wycombe, from 1986 to 1989; then as a Youth Chaplain in Peterborough, as well as travelling in Latin America.
In 1991 Bryant left the ordained ministry, after deciding that being gay and being a priest, were incompatible. Statements made by Richard Harries, then Bishop of Oxford, also influenced his decision.
After leaving the priesthood in 1991, Bryant worked as the election agent to the Holborn and St Pancras Constituency Labour Party, where he helped Frank Dobson hold his seat in the 1992 general election.
From 1993, he was Local Government officer for the Labour Party; he lived in Hackney and was elected to Hackney Borough Council in 1993, serving until 1998. He became Chair of the Christian Socialist Movement.
He is both a member of the Labour Friends of Israel and Labour Friends of Palestine & the Middle East. From 1994 to 1996 he was London manager of the leader-grooming "charity", Common Purpose.
He was Labour candidate for Wycombe, in the 1997 general election (he lost by 2,370 votes), and Head of European Affairs for the BBC, from 1998.
His selection for the very safe Labour seat of Rhondda, South Wales in 2000, shocked many people given Bryant's background – gay, an ex- Anglican vicar, and someone who was a Tory, while studying at Oxford, and a member now, of the Henry Jackson Society 'think tank' --- described by The Guardian newspaper as 'neoconservative'. It is pro-US, pro-NATO and pro-military intervention, as well as being fundamentally anti-socialist.
Fifty-two people applied for the candidature and a local councillor was hot favourite to win, before Bryant was parachuted in.
In 2004, a photograph of Mr Bryant in his underpants, which he had posted to a gay dating website, was published in 'papers.
When an interviewer suggested he was a 'disgrace to the Rhondda', he replied: "They can't get rid of me."
His pay, allowances and some expenses:
The basic annual salary for an MP, from April 1st, 2016 is £74,962. MPs also get expenses: to cover the costs of running an office, employing staff, having some- where to live in London, plus, in their constituency and travelling between Parliament and their constituency.
His MP's expenses story:
Chris Bryant changed second home twice to claim £20,000: the deputy leader of the House of Commons, "flipped" his second home twice, in 2 years, allowing him to claim almost £20,000 for renovations and fees.
Chris Bryant, MP for the Rhondda, split over £92,000 of expenses between 3 properties in Wales and London --- within five years.
In 2004, he attempted to claim £58,000 to overhaul his second home in Wales, after allegedly complaining that properties in his constituency were "terrace or mine owners' houses".
Mr Bryant, a former Church of England clergyman, wanted the money for a new bathroom & kitchen, and to demolish his conservatory. He'd bought the detached house for £97,500, under a year earlier.
He submitted a claim to the Commons fees office for £58,493.26 --- almost 3 times the annual maximum. He noted that the claim exceeded his allowance.
His alleged justification was disclosed... in correspondence between Commons officials. By email, an official wrote: "He had problems finding a suitable property because in the Rhondda there is a choice mainly of terraced property or mine owners' houses." When approached by the Daily Telegraph, Mr Bryant said: "I have never said or thought anything of the sort".
In all, he successfully claimed over £13,000 for renovations, repairs & appliances, in 2004. Along with other bills, his annual claim was £20,902.
In April 2005, he flipped his expenses to his flat in west London, which he bought for £400,000 in April 2002. He also claimed £630 a month for mortgage interest, along with other bills. After claiming over £3,600 over 3 months, he sold the flat in July 2005 for £477,000.
Mr Bryant used his profits to buy a more expensive flat in west London, which was valued at £670,000. He immediately flipped his second home expenses there, claiming almost £6,400 in stamp duty, legal fees and mortgage fees, incurred in the purchase.
He then began claiming interest of £1,000 a month on the mortgage. He also claimed a further £6,000 a year for the flat's service charge and ground rent.
In all, he claimed £92, 415 in second home expenses, from 2004 to 2009.
Mr Bryant said at the time: "I moved flat in London, so as to be closer to Parliament."
Research by Channel 4 News in 2015 found that at least 46 MPs had this kind of system in place – a move one Labour backbencher described as “a new fiddle”. Channel 4 reported then:
“Our investigation found that many of the MPs bought their London properties with the help of the taxpayer, when a previous expenses system allowed them to claim back mortgage payments. But when those claims were banned, following the expenses scandal, they switched to letting out their properties, in some cases for up to £3,000 a month. They then started claiming expenses for rent and hotels in the capital.”
Among those identified was Chris Bryant, shadow leader of the House of Commons. He had already bought a penthouse in London back in 2005 and claimed around £1,000 a month in mortgage claims under the old system.
But after the expenses scandal, he started renting the property out. It’s since been advertised by estate agents as having a private lift and a porter, with rent at about £3,000 a month. Meanwhile, Bryant moved into a new flat;- claiming his own rent on expenses.
Russian/Scottish scientists hail long-range secure quantum communication system.
A group of scientists from ITMO University in Saint Petersburg, Russia, has developed a new approach to constructing quantum communication systems for secure data exchange.
The experimental device based on the results of the research is capable of transmitting single-photon quantum signals across distances of 250 klmtrs or more, which is on par with its cutting edge analogues, the ITMO press-service says.
"Now researchers are on a mission -- to create a fully-fledged quantum cryptographic system, that will generate & distribute quantum keys and transmit useful data simultaneously", ITMO says.
Information security is becoming more and more of a critical issue not only for large companies, banks and defense enterprises but even for small businesses and individual users.
But the data encryption algorithms we currently use for protecting our data are imperfect - in the long-term, their logic can be cracked. Regardless of how complex and intricate the algorithm is, getting around it, is just a matter of time.
Unlike algorithm-based encryption, systems that protect information, by making use of fundamental laws of quantum physics, can make data transmission totally immune to hacker attacks, in the future.
Information in a quantum channel is carried by single photons that change irreversibly if an eavesdropper tries to intercept them. The legitimate users will instantly know about any kind of intervention.
Researchers at the Quantum Information Centre of the International Institute of Photonics and Optical Information Technology at ITMO Uni., Russia, along with their colleagues from the Heriot-Watt University, in Edinburgh, have devised a new way to generate and distribute, quantum bits.
This makes it possible to share quantum signals --- via optical fibres --- 250 kilometres in distance.
"To transmit quantum signals, we use the so- called side frequencies," says Artur Gleim, head of the Quantum Information Centre, at ITMO University,
"This unique approach gives us a number of advantages -- such as a considerable simplification of the device architecture and the large pass-through capacity of the quantum channel. In terms of bit rate and operating distances, our system is comparable to absolute champions in the field of quantum communications."
According to Robert Collins, research associate at the Institute of Photonics & Quantum Sciences at Heriot-Watt University, and one of the authors of the study, this may become a pivotal point for the whole field of quantum communication and cryptography:
"Down the track, this new approach can enable smooth coexistence of numerous data streams with different wavelengths in one single optical cable. On top of it, these quantum streams can be fed into the already existing fibre optic lines --- along with conventional communications."
The research paper is published in the Optics Express journal.
Scottish universities are to be congratulated for their strong & growing links with Chinese and Russian universities....
What a shame, that Wales is lying low --- with academics too scared to break from US military research.
KILLING THE ELDERLY BY CLOSING CARE HOMES
Did you know that each time a local authority
closes a care home for the elderly, within 8
months, around half the residents are dead?
Campaigners liken the cuts and their effect to euthanasia of the UK's elderly. What to do?
We can start by urging our MPs to sign EDM 2251:
EDM 2251: The contents
This House notes with deep concern the worsening crisis for elderly care as growing numbers of local authority and private care homes face closure
Acknowledges concerns that the loss of elderly people's care homes causes fear, anxiety and, in many cases, a higher mortality rate, when vulnerable, elderly people are forced to leave their homes
Further notes that the Southern Cross crisis will increase needs for local authority care
And therefore calls on the government to hold a public inquiry into the deaths after closures, of local authority care homes, and impose a moratorium on the closure of local authority care homes, until that inquiry publishes its results, to ensure that vulnerable, elderly people's lives are not put at further risk.
************************************************
MAKING THE CONNECTION IN WALES
Households across three more English areas will be able to access superfast broadband in the latest phase of a Government scheme to connect rural homes and businesses.
The £50 million funding package for Devon and Somerset (£30 million), Norfolk (£15 million) and Wiltshire (£4 million) will aid the roll- out of superfast broadband services unable to be reached by the market alone.
Areas will also receive financial support from their local authorities and private investors, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport says.
So it's Broadband Heaven for England...
and crapola for Wales' broadband - the
slowest, worst Broadband in the UK !!!
Lib Dems in Scotland might have received a pummeling for Clegg and his betrayals, yet, in Scotland, their campaign centred on it becoming the "most connected country in Europe," to massively boost their economy.
In Wales, which political party is now willing to put into practice scientists' recommendations: that Wales' hilly topography requires establishing
free 'wireless' broadband?
It could connect the people of Rhondda and the world, boosting Wales' economic regeneration, like no other move.Wireless technology is now supplying free broadband to an entire island off New Zealand's coast.
Come on; if New Zealand can do it - so can we !!!
Western China has embraced "green-mode development" - with painful changes from which, Wales could well learn.
Eastern China has seen fast growth and urban mess. The West, a mining and agricultural area, has not.
Xi'an Chan-ba Ecological District, is a model for reclaiming old mining areas.
It took six hard years, but now Xi'an is showing the world how best to change, by turning a badly polluted rubbish landfill site, into an all new environment-friendly development.
As China's economic focus moves from east to west, it's using the lessons learned during 30 or more years of rapid industrial development.
The green way for China's west, is to combine green industrialization & green urbanization.
The western region's strategy is to adopt effective energy-saving and environmental protection technologies... AND to extend its industry through science and products unique to China's West, together with strong vertical growth in agriculture and all its ancilliary economic & professional spin-offs.
In undertaking this industrial revolution, the western region will keep a sharp eye out - to avoid all polluting non-sustainable industries.
*********************************************
A BIG DROP OF HONEY !!!
Spring is beekeeping and honey-processing season in Yunnan province, in China.
Waves of bees flit across vast fields of flowers.
Local beekeepers and many from other places, such as Sichuan and Fujian provinces - set up their base in tents among the rapeseed farms.
The 430,000 hectares of rapeseed blooms in Luoping attract myriads of bees, which produce 15 - 20 million tons of honey a year.
Local people now look to brand their county as a honey production base & increase sales to outside markets.
Luoping Tianyuanmiyu Bee Industry Co Chair, Zhu Hongkun, founded his enterprise in 2009.
It mainly produces honey, propolis and propolis powder.
His company works with 270 plus beekeepers, who each earn 80,000 yuan a year on average.
Some earn 200,000 yuan annually, Zhu says.
Who says beauty endowed by nature isn't worth a fortune?
The whole of the uplands of south Wales could be as beautiful & productive, if used wisely!
CHINA's PREMIER POINTS WAY FORWARD
As the Tories threaten a "bonfire of the Quangos", perhaps Wales should take note. Now extracting all our mineral wealth has been stopped (apart from sand and rock) we find ourselves "in" the 1st World of the UK, but with a 3rd World economy, only just kept going by quangos which promise much... but deliver little... and rely on weak public support.
We could WAKE UP & understand that we either do something, or stay as begging bowl cases.
China's premier points the way forward for Wales:
"Industrial restructuring is the key... only by developing energy-efficient, indigenous innovative and high value added products can our companies and economy, achieve sustainable development."
*************************************************
WHILE FRANCE, GREECE, IRELAND, ETC, STRUGGLE TO STOP THE PENSION AGE RISING HIGHER AND HIGHER...
An online survey on qq.com, a popular Chinese news portal, finds that 91% of its over 800,000 respondents, are against raising the current official Chinese retirement age.
745,123 of those surveyed say they oppose raising retirement ages -- 72,456 support it.
China's scholars & the public have been debating whether to raise the retirement age, for the past few years, but the issue rose to prominence after remarks by an official.
Wang Xiaochu, the official vice minister of the Ministry of Human Resources & Social Security, said at a press conference that the government was "studying the matter"...
The retirement age in China is generally set at 60 for men and 50-55 for women.
Wow! Bet you didn't know that !!!
FARMING AND SCIENCE COULD REGENERATE WALES
A new UN General Assembly report warns "vast areas" of cultivated land are lost each year, and that this could lead to unrest.
The report says up to 30 million hectares, an area the size of Italy, is lost each year to environmental degradation, industry & urbanization - the growth of cities - and all because of speculative building and greed.
The UN special rapporteur Olivier De Schutter, gives the example of eastern Africa, where the amount of cultivated land has declined by half --- in just one generation! "
As rural populations grow and competition with large industrial units increases, plots cultivated by smallholders are shrinking year after year," says De Schutter.
"Farmers are often relegated to soils that are arid, hilly or without irrigation."
The UN officer also mentions India as another example, where the average landholding fell from 2.6 hectares in 1960 to 1.4 hectares in 2000. A cut of nearly half in 40 years!
He says 500 million small farmers suffer from hunger, partly because their right to land is being violated. The expert warns of the devastating consequences, as foreign investors compete for larger and larger areas of the world's land for "their" agriculture.
Rhondda Records says Wales could rebuild its new economy by basing it on a fresh approach to high-value added products, using science and agriculture... such as the Altzeim project in Gwent.
