Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been appointed
as an economic advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelensky, according to The Independent.
The article claims that Sunak has joined a special
international group of advisers helping Ukraine
with its ''economic reconstruction''.
Documents released on Friday by an independent adviser
on ministerial standards indicate that the former prime
minister.. has begun an unpaid role on Zelensky's
International Advisory Council for Ukraine's
Economic Renewal, the article says.
Earlier, Zelensky invited Slovak Prime Minister
Robert Fico to Ukraine....... so that they could
“discuss issues”.
______________________________________
Dominican Republic is ready -- to
promote relations with Vietnam
February 27th, 10:26am
(Prensa Latina)
The ambassador of the Dominican Republic here, Reinaldo
Espinal, today -- reaffirmed his country's full and firm
decision to decisively promote ties with Vietnam,
a valued friend in Southeast Asia.
It is pleasing to highlight the excellent relations that exist
today, between these two nations that reaffirm their
convergent vision on the importance of stability,
inclusive development and shared prosperity,
on the commemoration of the 182nd
anniversary of the proclamation
of Dominican independence.
Espinal said that the people of Vietnam and the Dominican
Republic share a sobering past, characterized by huge sacrifices and a firm and unwavering will: to love
freedom, to fight - to overcome adversity and
the vocation to work tirelessly to build
a better destiny.
Referring to bilateral ties, he recalled that diplomatic relations
were formalized 2 decades ago “and have been progressively
& firmly strengthening ties, based on mutual respect and the
political will to maintain a mutually beneficial relationship”.
The current strategic framework of these relations...
he noted later - involves fundamental aspects - like
political dialogue, trade, investment, agriculture,
and diplomatic training, among others.
But other -- no less important topics -- such as education,
technological innovation, academic, tourist and cultural
exchange await us just as promising, to address them
with a new vision for the future, city diplomacy and South-South cooperation, to build increasingly
substantive, dynamic and diversified
links, he said.
The Dominican ambassador also stressed that, likewise,
both countries are increasingly strengthening their
collaboration in multilateral spaces ---- in an
international scenario characterized by
tensions, uncertainty, and shared
challenges: such as climate
change, energy security,
economic resilience,
or cybersecurity.
“We are convinced that cooperation, complementarity
and constructive diplomacy are more necessary
today than ever”, he asserted.
Espinal also recalled the visit made in November 2024, to his
country by the Vietnamese Prime Minister, Pham Minh Chinh,
who held a fruitful meeting with President Luis Abidaner and
productive days of work with the Government authorities,
the business sector, and other important actors.
In another part of his speech, the diplomat referred to an
important twinning project between the provinces of
Dien Bien, and Hermanas Mirabal, “which we hope
to conclude very soon, and which will be a great
boost in our bilateral relations”, he anticipated.
Furthermore.. he congratulated the leaders of the Communist
Party of Vietnam, and with it, its people and Government, for
the successful completion of its XIV National Congress,
a process of singular importance in the clear and
cohesive determination of its strategic
direction for the coming years,
he noted.
________________________________
The Foreign Minister of Venezuela
pays tribute to those who fell
during the Caracazo
February 27th, 9:36am
(Prensa Latina)
The Foreign Minister of Venezuela, Yván Gil, paid tribute today
to those who lost their lives during the spontaneous social
revolt that shook Venezuela on February 27, 1989,
known in the world ...as the Caracazo.
On his Telegram account, the senior diplomat expressed that
this event “not only marked the breaking point of a political
system that had turned its back on the people and
imposed austerity measures --- by the orders
of Washington”.
He assured that it was also a popular expression that
called for - a profound transformation of the country.
The Venezuelan Foreign Minister said that the answers
were found in the Bolivarian project, of Commander
Hugo Chávez (1954-2013).
“Honour and glory to the victims of the Caracazo;
their sacrifice -------- was not in vain”, he stated.
Regarding the 37 years of the Caracazo, the United Socialist
Party of Venezuela (PSUV) called for a large march this
Friday to commemorate the historic date, in which
the people rose up against the government in
power ------ in a rejection of the economic
measures imposed by the IMF.
The PSUV called on the revolutionary and Chavista people to
join the popular mobilization, in which they will demand -- the
immediate release of their constitutional president - Nicolás
Maduro, and his wife and deputy Cilia Flores, kidnapped on
January 3 during a United States' military operation.
During the spontaneous rebellion of February 27 and 28, 1989,
the angry people opposed the economic measures promoted
by Carlos Andrés Pérez known as El Paquetazo, at the
request of the IMF and the World Bank, macro-
economic adjustments... that resulted in
the suffocation of the people.
The imposition of neoliberalism in Venezuela --- led to
privatizations, increased costs of services, gasoline,
freezing of workers' salaries and price liberalization.
These government policies plunged the South American
nation into misery, hunger led the country to contract
an external debt with the World Bank of more than
32 billion dollars and a poverty rate above 74%,
according to data from the time.
____________________________________
Russia: West seeks to repeat
past ‘plunder’ of Iran’s oil
February 26th, 5:16pm
(PressTV)
Moscow has slammed Western powers for pursuing policies
toward Iran that mirror historical attempts to exploit the
country’s resources.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Maria
Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign
Ministry, referred to declassified historical
documents and said that in 1946 US and
British companies sought to plunder
Iran's oil fields ....and that similar
dynamics are unfolding today.
She added that, according to those records, Western powers
at the time pressured the Iranian government into producing
unlimited oil, describing this ------ as the central objective of
their agenda.
Zakharova continued that, while those events took place 80
years ago, she believes the situation surrounding Iran is
again taking a similar shape, though she noted that
the global foreign-policy environment, has
fundamentally changed.
Referring to Western threats against Iran and other countries,
she said Western states are unwilling to relinquish those
advantages gained through colonial and neo-colonial
practices and have grown accustomed to relying
on those benefits, to maintain dominance.
"The majority of countries in the world --- are increasingly
defending their rights, building their domestic economic,
industrial, and scientific capacity, and strengthening
their national sovereignty," she stressed.
In another part of her speech... the Russian Foreign Ministry
spokeswoman said, "We are witnessing continuous threats
against Tehran, a show of force, intimidation, and an
irresponsible escalation of regional tensions
by Washington."
"Nevertheless, Russia and Iran continue to systematically
strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation --- in the
interests of the people of both countries,"
she noted.
The remarks came amid heightened regional tensions. US
President Donald Trump has ordered additional military
deployments to the region, including an extra aircraft
carrier, thousands of troops, warplanes, and guided
-missile destroyers, according to US officials.
In late January - Trump spoke of “another beautiful armada” of
warships heading towards Iran and said failure to reach a deal
would bring consequences “far worse” than the illegal strikes
of June 2025 on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Tehran has declared -- that it would respond decisively to any
military adventurism, as in the case of the June US attacks,
which prompted a ballistic missile barrage against
Al Udeid, Washington’s most important regional
airbase ....located in Qatar.
Speaking at the Supreme State Council of the Union State,
in Moscow on Thursday, Alexander Lukashenko criticized
the Western pressure --- on Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba,
describing them as shared partners of Belarus
and Russia ----- and condemned the open
interference by Western countries in
the affairs of sovereign states.
He stated that global trade is currently being damaged
by heavy tariffs, technological and energy blockades,
currency pressure and piracy along logistical routes.
The Belarusian president said that at present,
some countries are not being allowed to
export oil.
He added that, while the West is, to some extent, wary of
the leaders of the multipolar world -- China and Russia --
it has imposed unprecedented pressure on their allies.
As an example, Lukashenko said that, in recent weeks Venezuela, Cuba, and Iran -- “our shared partners” --
have been subjected to open interference,
primarily through economic means.
He emphasized that technological sovereignty, reliance on
domestic resources and competencies, prioritizing Union-
produced goods, and protecting the common market of
the Russia-Belarus Union State --- are key pillars of
security --- no less important than military and
foreign policy components.
In another part of his speech --- he said that China and Iran
are interested in developing relations with Belarus within
a framework similar to the current level of cooperation
between Moscow and Minsk.
“Today the Chinese have already suggested: ‘Let’s work
according to the principle of your work with Russia – a
region with regions.’Iran mentioned about half a year
ago that they want this kind of cooperation as well,”
he added.
________________________________________
Dominican lawyer and writer: “In
the US, let the majority prevail”
February 25th, 4:21pm
(Prensa Latina)
The Dominican writer and lawyer, Ramón Antonio Veras,
published today the article “In the US, let the majority
prevail”, in which he states that, although he
perceives US people -- as having “noble
feelings”, the country is run by a
minority of “evil” people.
Veras considers.. that the true driving force of the
US has been its working population, responsible
for its economic and scientific development..
but he warns ---- “those who love the least”
harm their country and humanity because
they only think about... the benefits that
the arms business brings them.
He considers.... that a powerful elite has imposed fear
and points out that “as war mongers only believe in
violence, they ignore International Law and the
United Nations Organization”.
In his analysis, the jurist maintains that those who
for more than 60 years have imposed a genocidal
blockade on the Cuban people, are those who
remain lacking in feelings -- and he qualifies
them as “those with hardness of heart”.
Women and men whose main objective is to generate
profits ---- even causing physical and moral harm to
others, are a part of US society, and are the ones
who today decide the destinies of their country,
he alerts.
He denounces that, furthermore, without providing any
evidence, US military forces - have murdered at least
150 people in Caribbean waters.. arguing that they
were drug traffickers.
Relying on accusations that, he claims, are unfounded,
the US intervened militarily in Venezuela, bombed
Caracas - and kidnapped President Nicolás
Maduro, and his wife.... Cilia Flores.
Any country that possesses natural wealth is exposed
to punishment by the North American minority, he
points out.
The jurist advocates that a democratic movement
emerge from within US society that is capable of
counteracting its war policies and restoring the
will of the majority.
To armaments and imperial militarism, the journalist
proposes opposing peace.... which is humanity's
desire to be able to develop, both materially
and culturally, he points out.
Likewise, he expresses his desire that the community
of good people in that northern nation mobilize, so
that the world can live in peace, and not, as is
currently the case ----- in constant stress.
___________________________________________
Young people, the least happy
age group ''in the world'' says West
February 25th, 2:48pm
(Prensa Latina)
The ''world's youth'' currently face unprecedented levels of
stress and uncertainty, driven by concerns related to job
insecurity, financial dependence and the lack of access
to social protection.
In an online seminar, professor, researcher and labour
economist, David Blanchflower, shared with experts
from the International Labour Organization.... his
concern for the well-being of young people.
Currently - he asserted - there is an inverse relationship
between happiness and age: older age groups express
the highest levels of happiness, while younger groups
express the lowest.
A study conducted in the United States by Blanchflower
confirmed the trends seen virtually around the world,
in all countries, in all regions, and in both advanced
and ''developing'' economies.
Declining job and income security, fuels youth
anxiety and distrust in institutions, he notes.
That today's young people feel anxious — more than
previous generations — was also reflected in the
ILO's Global Youth Employment Trends, 2024
report, where it is indicated that two out of
every three young people report feeling
stressed ---- due to job loss, and
job instability.
Likewise, it expresses concern about the economic
situation, the reduction of intergenerational social
mobility and prospects for financial independence.
The relationship between young people's mental
discomfort, and the rise of social networks and
smart technologies, can't be ignored, he adds.
These non-economic factors are clearly a central
part of this reality, Blanchflower acknowledges.
Other elements also play a role, such as labour
market challenges, gaps in social protection
...and young people's perception of their
future access to security, prosperity
and well-being.
In many countries, only a minority of young workers
have employment that includes social security
coverage, and many women of these ages,
remain excluded from educational and
employment opportunities.
Lack of protection and opportunities can be especially
stressful, for those commuting from school to work,
and can influence how they perceive institutions.
Obtaining and maintaining employment with due labour
and social protection, enjoying a work-life balance,
paying rent --- and becoming independent from
the family home --- is not guaranteed for
many young people.
According to an article on the website of the National
Office of Economic Research, there is evidence from
167 countries --- where young people have lower
levels of well-being than older age groups.
An analysis of the US, using 14 surveys found that
young people ---- had the lowest well-being of all
age groups.
Furthermore, young people feel significantly more alone
and unhappy than other age groups ---- in at least 26 of
the countries in the EU, according to the 2022 EU
Loneliness Survey.
[Rhondda Records adds - perhaps the West failed to survey youth happiness - in China, for example - which is blossoming.Might make for happier news, what!]
itineraries and exhibitions that generated new points
of interest for travelers.
With these results, China consolidates its domestic
tourism market as an engine of economic growth,
in a context of recovery in consumption and the
diversification of cultural offerings.
___________________________________________
They study the viability of zero fares
in public transportation in Brazil
February 24th, 8:24am
(Prensa Latina)
The Brazilian Government is studying the viability
of implementing a so-called zero fare in public
transportation ---- by determination of the
President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva,
the Minister of Cities, Jader Filho,
confirmed today.
In an interview with the program “Bom Dia, Minister”,
of the Brazilian Communication Company, the owner
stated that there is an internal discussion in the
Executive and that the Ministry of Economy is
carrying out a study to examine the cost of
the measure.
According to Filho, the current collective transportation
financing model ---- based on the almost exclusive
payment of the fare by the user, has failed and
no longer responds to social reality either in Brazil, or in other countries.
The model in which the citizen had to pay the entire fee
no longer works. We need to discuss, in fact, the
subsidy process, he stressed, when defending
a structural review of the system.
The initiative was based on direct guidance from Lula,
who commissioned the Ministry of Economy, to
prepare a feasibility study to calculate the
fiscal impact of eventual universal free
buses and metro systems, local
media indicated.
The head of that last organization, Fernando Haddad,
promised to present the report before leaving office,
which will allow the Ministry of Cities to advance a
specific proposal and debate its implementation
with states and municipalities.
According to Filho, the Ministry of Cities is already
discussing various solutions so that a national
debate can be opened and an understanding
can be reached on how to improve
public transport.
The issue could be incorporated into Lula's government
program for an eventual re-election, in a context in
which the cost of transportation weighs
significantly on the budget of
working families.
According to what the Secretary of Communication of the
Workers' Party, federal deputy Jilmar Tatto, told CNN
Brazil, the government wants to begin the process
of implementing a bill in this regard - this year.
''I met with President Lula at the PT anniversary celebration in
Salvador and he asked me about the issue. We are holding
a series of meetings with him - to discuss it. He is very
interested'', he said. In turn, the head of the Chamber
of Deputies, Hugo Motta, decided to create a
special commission ----- to analyze the
implementation of the zero fare.
__________________________________________
Kallas: The EU failed to reach an
agreement on the 20th package
of sanctions against Russia
February 23rd, 3:44pm
(Izvestia.ru)
Kaja Kallas, the head of European diplomacy, said that the
EU had failed to reach an agreement on the 20th package
of anti-Russian sanctions.
"Unfortunately, we have not reached an agreement on the
20th package of sanctions... But the work continues,"
she said. RIA Novosti quoted her as saying this.
Earlier, Hungary blocked the 20th package of anti-Russian
sanctions and a €90 billion loan to Ukraine - due to Kiev's
suspension of the Druzhba pipeline.
_______________________________________
Hungary blocks the 20th package
of sanctions against Russia
by George Parkhomenko
February 23rd, 3:04pm
(Rossiyskaya Gazeta)
To share
During a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday,
Hungary blocked the adoption of the 20th package
of sanctions against Russia --- due to Ukraine's
decision.... to halt oil transit through the
Druzhba pipeline.
Budapest also exercised its veto
power ...regarding a proposed
€90 billion loan for Ukraine.
This was announced... by the
Hungarian Foreign Minister
Peter Szijjarto.
"At today's meeting, I made it clear that we do not
support the 20th package of sanctions - and do
not give permission for it. And I made it clear
that we will not agree to Ukraine receiving
a €90 billion military loan," the agency
RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.
Szijjártó explained that Ukraine was blackmailing his
country and threatening Hungary's energy security.
He also accused Kiev and Brussels of colluding
and supporting the Hungarian opposition.
"No ----- a clear no, that's exactly
what I said," the minister added.
He emphasized that the country's leadership views the halt
in Russian oil transit.... as an infringement on Hungary's
sovereignty. Earlier, Szijjarto stated that the Russian
side had informed Hungary... that the Druzhba oil
pipeline - which was damaged by a Ukrainian
strike - is fully restored and operational.
However, he denied reports that Hungary would stop
supplying electricity to Ukraine, as it would create
challenges for the Hungarian minority.......
in Transcarpathia.
_____________________________________
Prime Minister of India - highlights the
importance of Artificial Intelligence
February 23rd, 1:37pm
(Prensa Latina)
The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, stated that
artificial intelligence belongs to the same category
as fire, writing, electricity and the Internet.
Prensa Latina, then, broadcasts the full text of Modi's
speech at the 2026 AI Impact Summit, held in New
Delhi from the 16th to the 20th of this month:
Setting up a human-centred future
for AI: AI Impact Summit 2026
At a defining moment in human history - the world gathered
at the 2026 AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. For us in India,
it was a moment of immense pride and joy, to welcome
heads of state, heads of government, delegates and
innovators ---- from around the world.
India brings scale and energy to everything it does - and this
summit was no exception. Representatives from more than
100 countries met. Innovators introduced cutting-edge AI
products and services. Thousands of young people
could be seen in the showrooms..... asking
questions and imagining possibilities.
Their curiosity made this summit the largest and most
democratized in the world in terms of AI. I consider
this ---- to be an important moment in India's
development path, because a massive
movement -- for AI innovation and
adoption has really taken off.
The history of humanity has witnessed many technological
changes that have transformed the course of civilization.
Artificial intelligence, belongs to the same category as
fire, writing, electricity and the Internet. But with AI,
changes that previously took decades to occur
can now unfold in a matter of weeks ....and
affect the entire planet.
AI is making machines intelligent, but it is even more of
a multiplier of the strength of human intention. It is
essential - that AI focuses on people and not
machines. At this summit - we have placed
human well-being ---- at the centre of the
global debate on AI, with the principle
of «Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana
Sukhaya» (well-being for all,
happiness for all).
I have always believed that technology should be at the
service of people, and not the other way around.
Whether it's digital payments through UPI or
COVID vaccination, we've made sure that
digital public infrastructure reaches
everyone......without leaving
anyone behind.
I could see the same spirit at the summit, in the work of
our innovators in areas such as agriculture, security,
assistance to people with disabilities, and tools for multilingual populations.
There are already examples of the empowering potential of
AI in India. Recently, «Sarlaben» - an AI-powered digital
assistant launched by Indian dairy cooperative AMUL,
is providing real-time guidance to 3.6 million mostly
female, farmers --- in their language, about the
health and productivity of livestock.
Similarly, an AI-based platform called Bharat VISTAAR offers
multilingual information to farmers, empowering them with
information on everything from weather to market prices.
Humans........ should never become mere data points or raw
materials for machines. Instead, AI must become a tool for
global good, opening new doors to progress for the Global
South. To translate this vision into action --- India has introduced the MANAV framework.... for human-
centred AI governance.
M – Moral and ethical systems:
AI must be based on
ethical guidelines.
A – Accountable Governance: Responsible
governance: transparent standards ---
and strong oversight.
N – National sovereignty: respect
for national data rights.
A – Accessible and inclusive: AI
should not be a monopoly.
V – Valid ---- and legitimate: AI must
comply with laws and be verifiable.
MANAV, which stands for «human», offers principles
that anchor AI ----- in real human values.
Trust is the foundation on which the future of AI is based.
As generative systems flood the world with content,
democratic societies - face the risks posed by
deepfakes.... and misinformation. Just like
foods carry nutritional labels...... digital
content must carry authenticity labels.
I urge the international community to come together to
create common standards for watermarking, and
source verification. India has already taken a
step in this direction - by requiring clear
labeling of synthetically generated
content, by law.
The well-being of our children is an issue that concerns us
deeply. AI systems must be built with safeguards that
encourage responsible, family-led participation,
reflecting the same care that we devote to
education systems around the world.
Technology offers its greatest benefits ...when it is shared,
rather than held as a strategic asset. Open platforms can
help millions of young people help make technology
safer and more human-centred. This collective
intelligence is the greatest strength of
humanity. AI must evolve as a
global common good.
We are entering an era where humans and intelligent systems
will create, work and evolve together. Completely new
professions will emerge. When the Internet began...
no one -- could imagine the possibilities. It ended
up creating large numbers of new opportunities
--- and the same will happen with AI.
I am convinced that our empowered young people will be the true drivers of the AI era. We..... encourage training, retraining & lifelong learning by launching some of the largest, most diverse training programs in the world.
India has one of the largest young and tech-talented
populations - in the world. Thanks to our energy
capacity and the clarity of our policies, we
are uniquely positioned to harness the
full potential of AI.
At this summit, I was proud to see how Indian companies
were launching indigenous AI models and applications,
reflecting the technological depth of our young,
innovative community.
To drive the growth of our AI ecosystem --- we are building
a strong infrastructure foundation. Under the AI Mission
India, we have deployed thousands of GPUs, and are
ready to deploy more --- soon. By accessing world-
class computing power at very affordable prices,
even the smallest startups ..........can become
global players.
Additionally, we have created a national AI repository,
democratizing access -- to AI data sets and models.
From semiconductors and data infrastructure, to
dynamic startups and applied research, we are focusing on the entire value chain.
India's diversity, democracy and demographic dynamism
provide the right environment for inclusive innovation.
Solutions that are successful in India --- can serve
humanity everywhere. That -- is why we invite
the world to: Design and develop in India.
Deliver to the world.Surrender
....to humanity.
__________________________________________
Trump has declared his readiness to do "terrible things" to other countries
by Oleg Ilyukhin
February 23rd, 1:25pm
(Vesti.ru)
In addition to tariffs -- the White House can use trade
licenses to do "terrible things" to foreign countries.
This is announced by US President Donald Trump.
On February 20, the US Supreme Court overturned the
import duties imposed by the Trump administration,
finding them in violation of constitutional rules.
In response, the US leader accused the judges
of being unpatriotic ....and working under
''foreign influence''.
_____________________________________________
The pensions of Russians who celebrated
their 80th birthday in February
will increase from March 1
by Sergey Popov
February 22nd, 9:56pm
(Vesti.ru)
Pensions for Russians who have reached the age of 80
increase from the month following their birthday. This
is not an additional indexation, but rather a planned
recalculation conducted by the Social Fund of
Russia (SFR).
The raise only applies to the fixed part of the insurance
pension, which is paid to everyone who has been
assigned an old-age, disability, or survivor's
pension, according to TASS.
An automatic recalculation occurs when a pensioner's life situation or conditions change, such as their age or disability group.
When you reach the age of 80, the fixed payment is
automatically doubled. As a result, citizens are
not required to submit an application to
receive this payment.
An exception is made for military pensioners who
receive both old-age insurance benefits (without
a fixed payment) and pensions as retired
military personnel.
In January 2026, the average old-age pension
in Russia exceeded 27 thousand rubles.
_____________________________________________
Trump raises global tariffs to 15%,
calls Supreme Court ruling
‘ridiculous’
February 21st, 7:22pm
(Prensa Latina)
US President Donald Trump has announced that he plans to
raise the global tariff rate to 15% after the Supreme Court
blocked him from using emergency powers -- to impose
sweeping import taxes on foreign trading partners.
Trump made the announcement on Saturday after the
Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the president
overstepped his authority by using the
International Emergency Economic
Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose his
“Liberation Day” tariffs, finding
that the law does not authorize
such sweeping import taxes.
Posting on his social media platform, Truth Social, on
Saturday, Trump said that after reviewing the court’s
“ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-
American decision,” he would immediately raise
the 10% worldwide tariff to the maximum
legally allowed 15%.
The new 15 percent tariffs are set to take effect on
February 24 and will exclude certain goods,
including agricultural products,
pharmaceuticals, electronics,
and essential minerals.
Imports from Canada and Mexico are also exempt under
the 2020 trade agreement negotiated during Trump’s
first administration.
Trump sharply criticized members of the court who backed
the ruling as “fools,” claiming that his administration has
“powerful alternatives.” He also said the court’s ruling
ultimately made a president’s ability to impose
tariffs “even more powerful.”
No previous president has used this authority.
By raising the tariff rate to 15%, Trump has fully exercised
the power granted under Section 122. Any further
increases would require congressional approval
or a separate legal mechanism.
The president signaled that his administration will continue
evaluating additional legally permissible tariffs in the
coming months, though he did not outline how
these would be implemented.
Representative Don Bacon told CNN that
Congress could block the tariff increase.
“It may not have a veto-proof majority, but there will be a
majority opposing the 10 percent global tariff,” he said,
calling the decision a mistake.
The House Ways and Means Committee Democrats, which
is the chief tax-writing committee, wrote on X, “Trump’s
commitment to pickpocketing the American people
is relentless.”
“A little over 24 hours after his tariffs were ruled illegal,
he’s doing anything he can to make sure he can still
jack up your costs,” it added.
Trump imposed his so-called “reciprocal tariffs” in April
2025 using IEEPA, a law that allows the president to
regulate commerce during a national emergency
but does not explicitly mention tariffs.
In the court’s ruling Friday, Chief Justice John Roberts
wrote that the language of IEEPA “cannot bear the
weight” of Trump’s tariffs.
At a news conference on Friday, Trump said he was
“ashamed of certain members of the court” and
accused the justices of being “unpatriotic and
disloyal to our Constitution.”
He also accused the court of being “swayed by foreign
interests and a political movement that is far smaller
than people would ever think.”
______________________________
ICE quietly buys warehouses for
major detention expansion,
catching local officials
off guard
February 21st, 6:43pm
(Prensa Latina)
US federal immigration authorities are acquiring large
warehouse properties nationwide ----- as part of a
sweeping effort to expand detention capacity,
often without notifying local officials before deals are finalized.
In Socorro, a city of about 40,000 near El Paso, local leaders
discovered that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
had already completed a $122.8 million purchase of three
warehouses totaling more than 826,000 square feet.
The properties are expected to be converted into
detention facilities operated by US Immigration
and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Mayor Rudy Cruz Jr. said the city officials were not
contacted before the transaction was finalized,
prompting frustration in the largely
Hispanic community.
“Nobody from the federal government bothered to pick up
the phone or even send us any type of correspondence
letting us know what’s about to take place,” he said.
Residents later voiced concerns at a lengthy City Council
meeting, questioning how the project might affect
infrastructure and public resources.
Socorro is among at least 20 communities identified in
ICE’s $45 billion plan to expand detention operations.
Documents released earlier this month by New Hamp-
shire’s governor’s office indicate the agency aims to
increase national detention capacity to 92,000 beds.
Since US President Donald Trump returned to office,
the number of detainees ...has climbed to about
75,000, up from about 40,000, according to
federal figures.
The DHS has confirmed it is seeking additional space
but has not disclosed locations prior to acquisitions.
The agency maintains that the facilities will meet
federal detention standards and has defended
its planning process.
In Berks County, Pennsylvania, officials said they learned
only after a sale closed... that ICE had purchased a
warehouse in Upper Bern Township for $87.4
million ----- raising worries about lost property tax revenue.
In Social Circle, Georgia — a city of roughly 5,000 residents
— leaders questioned whether local water and sewage
systems could support a proposed facility that may
hold up to 10,000 detainees.
The expansion is being funded through legislation
passed last year that significantly increased the
DHS’s budget.
The Trump administration is - reportedly - using military
contracting mechanisms to expedite construction and
acquisition, a move which critics argue ------ blocks legally needed transparency.
In Socorro, residents also cited concerns about detainee
welfare, referencing recent deaths at an ICE facility at
Fort Bliss.
Some speakers urged city leaders to explore legal options,
while others pressed for greater communication from the
federal authorities.
Federal officials say they have conducted due diligence -- to
ensure the projects will not overwhelm local utilities. But in
several communities, uncertainty remains as local leaders
seek more information about the scale and long-term
impact of the planned detention centres.
_______________________________
Cuba remembers..... murder ofAugusto César Sandino
February 21st, 11:03am
(Prensa Latina)
The organizational secretary of the Central Committee of
the Communist Party of Cuba, Roberto Morales, today
evoked Augusto César Sandino on the 92nd
anniversary of his murder.
«Augusto César Sandino -- the free men's general -- was murdered on a day like today. His example continues to inspire all of us ----- who swear ..like him: Free homeland --- or die!», he wrote on the social network X.
Sandino was a Nicaraguan revolutionary who rose
up alongside the workers against the reigning
bourgeoisie of his nation. On February 21,
in 1934, he was captured ...and later
murdered - by order of Somoza
García, a US proxy.... and a hated dictator.
__________________________________________
Cuba remembers the murder of Malcolm X
February 21st, 10:47am
(Prensa Latina)
The head of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Bruno Rodríguez,
today evoked the black US leader Malcom X, on the
61st anniversary of his assassination.
«On February 21, 1965, African-American leader and
African-American fundamental rights fighter,
Malcolm X was assassinated», he wrote.
He also noted that 61 years later «racism continues to be
rooted in United States society and constitutes a serious
institutional problem --- yet to be resolved».
«Today, Cuba remembers its fight for freedom and justice in
favour of exploited and excluded minorities in the United
States and the world», added the chancellor.
The Foreign Ministry also recalled the event and stated
that Malcolm X continues to be a universal symbol
of resistance.
«His historic meeting with Fidel Castro in 1960
represented the union of two struggles: that
of the African-American people - and that
of the Cuban people».
_______________________________________
US Supreme Court strikes down
swathe of Trump global tariffs
February 20th, 5:16pm
(PressTV)
The United States Supreme Court has struck down
the global tariffs imposed by the administration
of President Donald Trump.
Trump's sweeping economic tariffs targeted
countries across the globe... that are
considered US trading partners.
The tariffs imposed by the Trump administration had
been lodged under the International Emergency
Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
However, the IEEPA was meant to be applied
in the event of a national emergency.
The US Supreme Court justices, in a 6-3 ruling, decided
that the use of the IEEPA exceeded Trump's authority.
The Supreme Court upheld the rulings by lower courts
rejecting Trump's authority to impose the tariffs.
Trump had been the first president to use the IEEPA to
impose sweeping tariffs on US trading partners.
The move was just one of the many ways Trump
has aggressively pushed the boundaries of
executive authority.
Under US law, Congress, not the president,
has the power to impose taxes and tariffs.
However, by invoking the IEEPA to impose tariffs on
nearly every US trading partner --- without the
approval of Congress, Trump broke the law.
Trump has used tariffs and sanctions as
a bargaining chip in US foreign policy.
The use of tariffs by Trump as an economic and
foreign policy tool has antagonized numerous
countries, including some that were
considered among the closest
US trading partners and
political allies.
What changes now?
In the short term, US tariffs are likely to fall.
Analysts estimate that without the emergency-based
tariffs, the average effective US tariff rate.. would
drop to about 9 percent, compared with nearly
17 percent if they had remained.
While still high by historical standards, this would ease
some pressure on consumers and businesses facing
higher import costs. Economists say the ruling
could push the administration toward a more
structured and possibly lower overall
tariff policy.
The struck-down tariffs ...are estimated to have generated
between $130 billion and $140 billion by the end of 2025.
If courts eventually require refunds to importers, the
government could face an additional fiscal hit.
However, refunds would not be automatic — companies
would have to sue to recover the money, and legal
battles are already underway.
The decision - may also reduce a president’s flexibility
to impose sweeping tariffs quickly under emergency
powers. Still, the ruling does not eliminate other
legal tools available to impose trade duties.
Observers, meanwhile, warn that tariffs can return. US law
provides alternative routes — including national security
and unfair trade investigations — that could allow new
or revised tariffs. However, these processes typically
take more time and may result in narrower or lower
duties than before.
__________________________________
The Trump administration grants ICE
broader powers to detain legal
refugees, citing concerns
for society
February 20th, 3:31pm
(PressTV)
The Trump administration has given immigration enforcers
more powers, allowing them to imprison legal refugees in
detention centres.
A new directive reported by media on Thursday allows
immigration officers to detain asylum seekers while
awaiting a green card to ensure that they are
“re-vetted” for not posing a threat to
US society.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), reportedly
in a directive dated Feb. 18, gave the Immigration and
Customs Enforcement (ICE) the power to "maintain
custody" of detained refugees "for the duration
of the inspection and examination process."
“This detain-and-inspect requirement ensures that
refugees are re-vetted after one year, aligns post-
admission vetting with that applied to other
applicants for admission, and promotes
public safety,” the DHS said in
the memo.
Refugees entering the United States are required by law
to apply for lawful permanent resident status one year
after their arrival in the country.
The Trump administration's new memo - authorizes the
immigration authorities to hold individuals in custody
for the duration of the re-inspection process.
"[The Department of Homeland Security] must treat
the one-year mark as a mandatory re-vetting point
for all refugees who have not adjusted to [Lawful
Permanent Resident] status, ensuring either that
they are scheduled to 'return' to custody for
inspection or, if they do not comply, that
they be 'returned' to custody -- through
enforcement action," the memo reads.
Trump administration officials say the new directive
will help determine whether a refugee obtained his
/her refugee status through fraud, or whether they
pose a threat to national security or public safety
because of potential ties to terrorism or serious
criminal histories.
The DHS directive says refugees who raise red flags
during this examination may be stripped of their
legal status and processed - for deportation.
The Trump administration's directive - is a 180-degree
shift from the earlier 2010 memorandum during the
Obama administration.
The memo stated that failure to obtain lawful permanent
resident status was neither a “basis” for removal from
the country, nor a “proper basis” for detention.
The directive is a major step advancing the Trump
administration’s sweeping campaign to detain
and deport some noncitizens.
The Trump administration's tough anti-immigration policy
has prompted sharp criticism from judges, human rights
defenders, and refugee advocacy groups.
___________________________________________
84 deported migrants
return to Venezuela
February 20th, 2:20pm
(Prensa Latina)
Today the number of migrants deported from the US
who arrived in Venezuela on flight number 114
of the Vuelta a la Patria Plan --- rose to 84.
The US airplane arrived at the Simón Bolívar international
airport in Maiquetía, in the state of La Guaira, and was
received by officials from various State agencies,
among them... the security forces and the
Great Mission ---- 'Vuelta a la Patria'
(Return to the Fatherland).
A total of 84 people returned on the aircraft, of which nine
were children, according to information from the Great
Mission, on its Instagram account.
What “was uncertainty today is the certainty of hugs,
and what was distant, today is a reunion that heals,
strengthens ....and renews the hope of an entire
people”, the head of the Great Mission noted.
He stressed that they remain committed to the
“safe and dignified return of Venezuelans”.
Since the restoration of flights - in February 2025 - more
than 200 thousand compatriots have returned to their homeland, according to official data.
The government initiative seeks to facilitate the return of
Venezuelan citizens vis the Return to the Homeland
plan, created by the constitutional president of
Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro in 2018, through
which more than 1 million 600 thousand
people --------- have already returned.
_________________________________
President in charge of Venezuela
promulgates Amnesty Law
February 20th, 9:53am
(Prensa Latina)
The president in charge of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez,
today promulgated the Amnesty Law for Coexistence
and Peace, once it was unanimously approved in
the 2nd discussion by the National Assembly.
Accompanied by the head of parliament, Jorge Rodríguez,
and the sectoral vice president of Politics, Citizen
Security and Peace, Diosdado Cabello ----- the
president described the law as an “act of
greatness and detachment” for those
who, in the last 25 years, have had
political action in this country.
He stressed that they are getting rid of a bit of
intolerance ..and “opening new avenues for
politics in Venezuela”.
Rodríguez welcomed.. the deputies of the ruling party and
opposition who went to the Miraflores Palace, the seat of
Government, “carrying -- not a pile of papers, but hope
for Venezuela”.
They are not all new political actors, he stated, recognizing the presence of “many political actors” from the last quarter of a century that has passed, but also young people -- for whom they are acting -- and guaranteeing a future of peace,
coexistence and engagement
for themselves, and for
the children.
He recalled that dramatic moments have come for
the Republic, such as the events on January 3,
which will be recorded in the history of the
country “as an unprecedented military
aggression - by a nuclear power”,
which touched the soul and
conscience of good
Venezuelans.
When referring to this moment, the president pointed out
that it brought a deep process of reflection, not only by
the national opposition, but all the political sectors of
the nation... “who are taking this important step to
show Venezuela and the world ----- what we are
capable of”.
He recalled that on January 30, he proposed the legal
instrument at the beginning of the Judicial Year and
in just 20 days an “extraordinary political maturity”
of all the participants was demonstrated, not only
in parliament, but also by the members of the
Program for Coexistence and Peace, who
made extensive consultations.
Rodríguez expressed feeling “very pleased” because an
extraordinary door is opening for Venezuela to meet
again, to learn to live together democratically and
peacefully - and get rid of hatred & intolerance &
let human rights, love and understanding prevail.
He commented on the appointment by parliament of a
special commission to monitor the Law and asked for
maximum speed on it, in addition to requesting the
Judicial Commission - chaired by Cabello - to
parliament - for the Coexistence and Peace
Program to activate ...to review cases not
contemplated in the Amnesty Law -- and
give the pertinent recommendations to
“heal wounds, & redirect democratic
coexistence and justice”.
After extensive days of discussion with all sectors of
the country's political and social life, this Thursday
the National Assembly sanctioned this regulation
of 16 articles, that will come into force, once it is published in the Official Gazette.
_____________________________________
Sky News ---- Andrew Mountbatten-
Windsor Released from Detention
by Stanislav Mamrov
February 19th, 7:38pm
(Vesti.ru)
The brother of King Charles III of the United Kingdom,
Prince Andrew (Duke of York).... has left his place of
detention. This was reported by Sky News, citing
its sources.
Andrew was released from custody - almost 12 hours after
his arrest. He left the Aylesham police station, in a car. It
was noted, that he was leaning back slightly in his seat
....writes the publication
At the moment, the official representatives of Buckingham
Palace and law enforcement agencies have not provided
detailed comments.. regarding the conditions for the
release... or a change in the procedural status of
this member of the royal family.
As previously reported, Prince Andrew was detained in
connection... with Epstein's case. Law enforcement
agencies are investigating the incident involving
the transfer of government documents
to Epstein.
Previously, the activities of this member of the royal family
were repeatedly the subject of legal proceedings, which
led to his actual removal from official duties.. and the loss of several titles.
______________________________________
UK's police arrest ex-prince Andrew
over sex scandal linked to Epstein
February 19th, 7:12pm
(PressTV)
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the younger brother of
British King Charles III, has been arrested by police
investigating the former prince’s dealings with the
convicted child sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.
In unprecedented scenes... unmarked police cars
and plainclothes officers were seen at Andrew’s
residence, on Thursday morning.
Andrew, who was stripped of his titles last year but
remains eighth in line to the throne, was held in
custody by Thames Valley Police, as officers
searched the Norfolk property, as well as
his former home, the Royal Lodge, in
Great Windsor Park.
A statement from the police said: “As part of the
investigation, we have today (19/2) arrested a
man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion
of misconduct in public office, and are
carrying out searches at addresses
in Berkshire and Norfolk."
Oliver Wright, one of the force’s assistant chief
constables, said: “Following a thorough
assessment, we have now opened an
investigation into this allegation of
misconduct in public office.
“It is important --- that we protect the integrity and
objectivity of our investigation - as we work with
our partners to investigate this alleged offence.
We understand the significant public interest
in this case, and we will provide updates at
the appropriate time,” Wright noted.
Andrew's whereabouts are unknown. It is understood
that neither the King nor Buckingham Palace was
informed in advance of the arrest.
Thames Valley is one of a number of police forces to have
assessed allegations that resurfaced when the Epstein
files were published by the US Justice Department.
The force said previously it was reviewing allegations that
a woman was trafficked to the UK by Epstein, to have a
sexual encounter with Andrew, and claims he shared
sensitive information with the disgraced financier
while serving as the UK’s trade envoy.
The allegations stem from documents released by the
US Justice Department relating to Epstein and his
links to the rich and powerful.
Emails released appeared to show Andrew
sharing reports of official visits to Hong
Kong, Vietnam, and Singapore.
Lawyers say Andrew could also face questions about
alleged sexual wrongdoing, while under arrest on
suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Republic, a group that campaigns to abolish the monarchy,
welcomed the arrest, which it said was in response to a
crime report sent to the police by its chief executive,
Graham Smith.
“Republic’s lawyers - will continue to investigate related
alleged offences and provide information to the police
over the coming weeks and months,” Smith added.
According to the Crown Prosecution Service’s website,
misconduct in public office carries a maximum
sentence ..of life imprisonment.
__________________________________
In Poland ---- Ukrainian refugees have been
stripped of their special status & benefits
by Marina Sovina (night editor)
February 19th, 6:35pm
(Lenta.ru)
Polish President, Karol Navrotsky, signed a law on
the termination of special status and benefits for
Ukrainian refugees, according to the head of
state's press secretary Rafal Leskevich.
This is reported by TASS.
"Navrotsky signed a law on January 23, 2026, repealing
provisions of the law on assistance to citizens of
Ukraine in connection with the armed conflict
in that country," he said.
The document deprives Ukrainians of access to free
medical care, and they will also lose their housing
benefits. However, medical services will be
provided to wounded soldiers of the
Ukrainian Armed Forces who are
receiving treatment in Poland.
At the same time.. Ukrainian citizens will be able to
stay in Poland legally by extending their residence
permits for three years.
Earlier, it was reported that there are about
a million Ukrainian refugees in Poland.
_______________________________________
Czechs no longer feel at home, because of the Ukrainian language
by Nikita Khromin
(night line editor)
February 19th, 6:29pm
(Lenta.ru)
Residents of the Czech Republic have started complaining
more and more often --- that they don't feel at home, but rather..... like they are in Ukraine, because they hear Ukrainian spoken around them too often.
This was stated by the Speaker of the Chamber
of Deputies of the Czech Parliament, Tomio
Okamura, in an interview with the
portal Idnes.
"I've read statistics that one in three people in Prague is
already a foreigner. Many citizens have written to me
that shopping malls and other parts of Prague are
already like Ukraine," Okamura shared, noting
that this has caused discontent among the
Czech people.
The politician emphasized that the current situation has
become a "border," and Czechs should feel at home in their own country. Additionally, the influx of
Ukrainians --- who are being used as cheap
labour, has led to a decrease in wages
in the Czech Republic.
Okamura added that a law is currently being drafted
that will significantly ''tighten'' the temporary
protection regime for Ukrainians.
Earlier, it was reported that a US immigration officer
detained a Ukrainian ---- and wished Russia victory.
major assets in Latin America must fall under its say.
Countries in the region, in its view ----- should have no right to
independently choose their partners, nor to pursue mutually
beneficial cooperation with states outside the hemisphere.
What truly concerns the US has never been risks to
"sovereignty," but....... the loss of its traditional
exclusive status in the Western Hemisphere.
"The US has long placed its own interests above those of regional
countries, habitually sacrificing other nations' sovereignty and
development rights to safeguard its hegemony. It frequently
uses so-called threats as a pretext..... to interfere in and
smear other countries' normal cooperation. Its ultimate
aim, is to push Latin American countries to a position
where their sovereignty is effectively outsourced to
the US, making them dependent on and subject to
Washington," Pan said.
Such practices run counter to the trend of the times ------ and to the
shared aspirations of regional countries for stability, development
and autonomy. In response to the Bureau of Western Hemisphere
Affairs' post on X, many netizens commented: "We don't need
interventions from the US," and "There is no 'cheap' money;
it is 'useful' money." Facts speak louder than words. Even
as Washington hypes --- and sows discord, the Chancay
Port has already been recognized by China and Latin
America..... as a "win-win" project.
Since its opening, one-way shipping time between China and Peru
has been reduced to about 23 days, cutting logistics costs
by more than 20 percent.
Cooperation on the Chancay Port... stands as a model of mutually
beneficial China-Peru collaboration and a vivid example of Latin
America's independent development. The region is no one's
"backyard." Countries there have every right and the full
capacity to decide with whom to cooperate, how to
cooperate and on what terms.
Rather than spreading alarm and launching smear campaigns,
the US should respect the sovereignty and choices of Latin
American countries and do more -- to genuinely benefit
the region's people and development.
Frostbitten:The West has cut off
all communication channels
with Russia in the Arctic
by Daniel Sechkin
& Semyon Boikov
February 12th, 9:01pm
(Izvestia.ru)
All cooperation tools have been destroyed, and NATO
.....has launched a new military mission in the region.
According to Alexander Grushko, Deputy Foreign Minister of the
Russian Federation, the peaceful instruments of cooperation
in the Arctic have been purposefully destroyed by Western
countries. According to him, the severance of ties is
being used to militarize the region and turn it
into an arena of direct confrontation.
On February 12, NATO defense ministers in Brussels discussed
the implementation of the Arctic Sentinel mission, which was
launched the day before. However, the increased military
presence in the region is not only an attempt to contain
Moscow and Beijing, but also a desire by Europeans
to protect Greenland from the claims of the
White House.
The Arctic is becoming an arena of confrontation
The peaceful architecture of the Arctic region, which has been
built over decades, is being dismantled. Western countries are
undermining years of constructive cooperation, Russian
Deputy Foreign Minister, Alexander Grushko,
told Izvestia.
"All peaceful instruments of cooperation are being purposefully
destroyed, and the work of the Arctic Council, which was the
main international platform for managing the situation in the
Arctic and establishing cooperation, has been effectively
blocked.In this region, international cooperation ---- is
more important than ever," Grushko emphasized.
According to the diplomat, the Northern Dimension program also came under attack: cooperation between the Russian
Federation, the EU, Norway and Iceland, was carried out along this line. The program ---- allowed the parties to implement projects in various areas: from peaceful development of territories -- and environmental protection..... to transport partnerships, and cultural exchanges.
"All of this - was man-made in order to demonize Russia and
militarize the region," Grushko said. "Suddenly, they're all
talking about how the Arctic --- is not a low-tension zone.
Now it's also being declared an arena of confrontation,
where they - I'm referring to NATO and the European
Union - want to confront, not only Russia, which is
allegedly militarizing the region, but also China.
Now the situation around Greenland has come to the fore,
although until recently, no one spoke about any threats
to the island's security. On February 12, a meeting of
NATO defense ministers ended in Brussels, the
central theme of which was the sharp
strengthening of the alliance's
position in the North.
To fulfill its tasks, NATO launched Operation Arctic Sentry
on February 11. As the commander of the US European
Command, General Alexis Grinkevich, explained, the
mission will allow "using the power of NATO" - to
ensure the security of the region in the face
of new challenges.
It is important to understand that Arctic Sentry is not a one-time
exercise, but rather a transition to a permanent "heightened
vigilance" format. NATO is taking on the role of a central
coordinator, with intelligence sharing, patrols, and all
major allied maneuvers in the region, falling under
the "one umbrella" of planning. This includes the
Danish Arctic Resilience series, which focuses
on Greenland.
At the same time, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has stated
that thousands of troops could be deployed to the island, but
it remains unclear whether this is related to the operation.
According to the Secretary General, the main goal of the mission
is to prevent Russia and China from gaining access to Greenland
and its economy. However, Moscow and Beijing have previously
emphasized that they have no territorial claims on the island.
Even in Greenland itself, there have been repeated calls for the
absence of foreign warships near its shores, meaning that
Nuuk does not feel any threat from either Russia or China.
Nevertheless, Washington insists that Greenland is a critical point
of control over routes in the North Atlantic and a necessary
"buffer" to deter Moscow and Beijing -- as well as a valuable
resource base. After returning to the White House, Donald
Trump set his sights on acquiring the island, initially
suggesting that it could be done by any means
necessary, including force.
In the context of transatlantic tensions and uncertainty between
the United States and other NATO members, leading European
powers of the alliance, like France, are seeking to increase
their symbolic military presence in Greenland. On the one
hand, they are playing into the hands of Trump --- who
claims that Russia and China pose a threat to the
island's security and need to be defended,
according to Nikita Lipunov, a junior
researcher at the Institute
for World Economy, and
International Relations
at MGIMO University.
"At the same time, the real motivation for the Europeans here is to
deter their main ally from taking military action and resolving the
Greenland issue by force. The Europeans want to show Trump
that they are truly committed to investing in Greenland's
defense. By increasing their military presence, they
are sending a clear message that the use of force
against an ally is unacceptable," the
expert emphasized.
It seems that the military scenario is no longer being seriously
considered in Washington. The United States, along with
Denmark and Greenland, has established a working
group.... to discuss the parameters of future
agreements. According to Washington's
version, the "deal" should grant the US
full access to Greenland -- as well as
involve the deployment of elements
....of the "Golden Dome" missile
defense system -- and provide
US firms ----- with expanded
access to critical minerals.
The potential expansion of the US military presence - particularly
its missile defense component, poses long-term risks to regional
and global security --- Lipunov emphasized. Russia's Foreign
Minister Sergey Lavrov recently warned, that if Greenland
is militarized and military capabilities are established
there against Russia --------- Moscow will take
"adequate countermeasures."
_____________________________________________
Zakharova: Ukraine.. is mentioned in
Epstein's files in a terrible context
February 12th, 8:44pm
(Izvestia.ru)
On February 12, Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that Ukraine was mentioned in
the files of US financier Jeffrey Epstein in a terrible context, as
a testing ground for various experiments.
"Ukraine is mentioned in these very Epstein files, and in a terrible
context. It is used as a testing ground for various experiments,"
she said in an interview with Natalia Lokteva, a member of
the Family Commission of the State Council of the
Russian Federation and director of the Institute
for Support of Children's Blogging, published
on the Telegram channel "Russia.
Children. Lokteva."
Zakharova also recalled that, in 2022, President
Volodymyr Zelensky “literally legitimized black
transplantation” by lowering the requirements
for cutting organs from people “to the limit.”
The Diary of Satan: Shocking Facts from the Epstein Files
Terrible details about "parties" attended by "the
best people in the world" have been published.
On February 10, Zakharova said that the released Epstein files
showed that representatives of the liberal forces crossed all
the boundaries and consolidated anti-values. She clarified
that these files provided the global community with a
monstrous ---- but also fantastically rich basis for
discussion, during which terrible conclusions
could be drawn.
At the same time, she emphasized that European leaders
were doing everything possible not to investigate
Epstein's crimes .....but to conceal them.
__________________________________________
Meme's politician suggestedthat the EU
return frozen assets to Russia, instead
of providing a loan to Ukraine
by Yulia Ryabinina
February 11th, 9:45pm
(Rossiyskaya Gazeta)
To share
Instead of providing a multibillion-euro loan to Ukraine, the EU
could return the frozen assets to Russia as part of a peaceful
settlement. This was stated by Armando Mema, a member of
the Finnish Freedom Alliance party, on the social media
platform X.
According to him, the EU ...could offer Russia to return its
frozen assets as a de-escalation measure in preparation
for peace talks to end the conflict, writes RIA Novosti.
Instead, Mema noted, Europe is claiming the right
to use Russian assets for the benefit of Ukraine.
The EU could get a seat at the negotiating table, but
nothing will come of it, and it continues its failed
strategy, the politician emphasized.
There is no doubt, Mema added, that the decision made
by ''Europe'' --- will bring even more suffering to the
Ukrainians, as well as an economic crisis
for Europeans.
Earlier, the European Parliament (EP) approved a €90 billion
''loan'' to Ukraine for 2026 and 2027. The EP vote was the
final step required for the final approval of this loan.
When answering a question about a recent article in The New
York Times about cartels' use of weapons and ammunition
made for the United States military, Trevilla detailed the
number of 50 calibre cartridges seized.
“From 2012 to date, there are 137 thousand cartridges; of those,
47 percent come from that company (a North American army
cartridge plant), which have been marketed in gun stores
in the southern United States”, he noted.
In a recent editorial titled United States, drug gunsmith, the
prestigious newspaper La Jornada denounced that not
only private initiative, otherwise, the US government
is a supplier of weapons to the cartels that the
White House claims to persecute............
with all its power.
According to the newspaper of this Latin American nation, The
New York Times documented that in 2019, a convoy of armed
men “with a heavy and powerful machine gun, and 50 calibre
rifles” entered Villa Unión, Coahuila, and “opened fire ---- so
that it made the Earth tremble”.
When gathering shell casings from the scene where 19 suspected
criminals, four police officers and two civilians died, investigators
found that the ammunition was marked with the initials LC, used
by the US Army cartridge plant in Lake City, he noted.
According to what was disclosed, it is owned by the
federal government and the largest manufacturer
of rifle cartridges for Pentagon troops.
La Jornada mentioned that, although 50 calibre bullets are
so powerful -- that they are used to destroy vehicles and
even light aircraft, in the neighbouring territory they
are for free sale ------ as part of the well-known
debauchery ------ that characterizes the
marketing of firearms there.
______________________________
Lula announces million-dollar
investment ---- to produce
vaccines in Brazil
February 9th, 2:23pm
(Prensa Latina)
The president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, announced today an investment of 1.4 billion reais (269 million dollars) ..to expand the production of vaccines and serums at the Butantan Institute.
In an event held at the entity's headquarters, in Sao Paulo,
the president reported - that resources will be allocated
to expand the infrastructure and productive capacity
of immunizers and pharmaceutical supplies for the Unified Health System (SUS).
During the ceremony, service orders were signed --- for the
construction of two new factories and the modernization
of two other units of the institute, with the aim of
reinforcing the country's health sovereignty.
The plan includes the development of advanced technologies,
such as vaccines based on messenger RNA (mRNA), and the
national production of active pharmaceutical input (API),
the key to reducing dependence on imports.
In addition to the federal contribution, the Butantan Foundation
will allocate nearly 400 million additional reais to the works
(770 thousand dollars).
Among the planned projects are new plants for the production
of IFA, the expansion of serum packaging and freeze-drying
capacity, and a modernization of strategic industrial areas.
The announced investments also include the production
of vaccines against human papillomavirus, diphtheria,
tetanus and whooping cough.
By highlighting the importance of the role of the State in
investments in science, innovation and public health,
Lula maintained that supporting Butantan is helping
215 million people who need these investments.
The president, who was accompanied by his vice president,
Geraldo Alckmin, and several ministers, defended - that
possible productive surpluses could be allocated to
poorer countries in Latin America and Africa.
During the event, the Government confirmed the start of
vaccinations against dengue in all states, as part of a
campaign aimed at SUS primary care professionals.
The strategy is supported by a vaccine developed entirely
by the Butantan Institute, with a single dose --- and
protection against the 4 serotypes of the virus.
According to the Ministry of Health, the initial goal is to
immunize 1.2 million SUS workers who work on the
front line of care, with a view to which the first
650 thousand doses have already begun to
be distributed.
_________________________________
Mexico will recover more than
200 mining concessions,
says Sheinbaum
February 9th, 12:23pm
(Prensa Latina)
The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, reported today
that the State will recover more than 200 mining
concessions currently in private hands.
“We are working because more than 200 mining concessions
are going to be returned to the Mexican State”, stated the
Chief Executive, who specified during her usual press
conference that these were not in production.
When announcing that other details will be disclosed later,
she mentioned that the companies agreed.... voluntarily.
After the agreement announced between Mexico and the US
to work on an action plan on critical minerals, Sheinbaum
clarified that “nothing has been signed yet”, talks are
about to begin and there will be no changes to the
legislation or the delivery of natural resources.
The action plan “speaks of sovereignty, that means that the
US investigates in its country, and we do our exploration in
our country. It is not joint. Everyone” in their territory, the
dignitary stressed from the National Palace.
“We are very clear – she pointed out - that natural resources
are not given away. We are very clear about it - and we are
not going to start a process of opening mines now either.
In fact, it's the opposite”, she said.
Last Wednesday, Secretary of the Economy, Marcelo Ebrard, announced.. that the administrations of Mexico and the US,
agreed to work on a joint action plan on critical minerals.
A statement from the portfolio detailed that the objective of
the initiative lies in ensuring the supply of essential inputs
for various key sectors of industry, through bi-national
cooperation, within a framework of respect ---- and
adherence to the legislation of both countries.
_______________________________________________
Epstein's brother claimed that
the financier was killed on
Trump's orders
by George Galoyan
February 6th, 4:05pm
(Gazeta.ru)
US financier Jeffrey Epstein was killed on the orders of US
President Donald Trump because he was going to "name
names." This was stated --- by the financier's brother
Mark Epstein, according to the newspaper Metro.
The publication noted that Trump has never been accused
in the case of Epstein's death, which was ruled a suicide.
It is noted that the FBI documents contain details of a call from
a Dallas limousine driver who claims to have overheard a 1995
phone conversation between Trump and a woman discussing
“abuse of some girl,” while mentioning the name “Jeffrey.”
On January 30, the US Department of Justice released a new
batch of documents in the Epstein case, the files included
photos of a man who looked like the younger brother of
King Charles III of the United Kingdom.
Epstein was accused of arranging visits to his New York home
and his private island for dozens of underage girls between
2002 and 2005. Investigators determined that the
youngest girl was 14 years old.
In August 2019, the financier was found in
a semi-conscious state in a prison cell,
and he could not be saved.
It was previously reported that Prince Andrew’s
daughters were “horrified” --- by Epstein’s
compromising photo' of their father.
_____________________________________
Gallup poll: US public in deep political
anxiety, gripped by economic stress
February 5th, 7:42pm
(PressTV)
New international polling by Gallup reveals - that the US
stands out globally for its intense anxiety over politics,
democracy, and economic insecurity, painting a bleak
picture of a country increasingly unstable compared
with its peers.
The survey of 107 countries showed that US citizens are
unusually fixated on politics and government as the
most serious problem facing their nation.
Roughly one-third of US citizens named politics and
government as the top issue, a level matched only
by Taiwan. While wealthier countries tend to
emphasize political concerns, the US is
exceptional ---- in how sharply these
worries dominate public opinion.
Gallup researcher Benedict Vigers said the US stands out
for its combined fear about democratic stability and
declining economic opportunity, noting that “It's
really unique in that regard.”
The survey, conducted from March to October 2025, comes
after decades of intensifying partisan polarization, the rise
of incumbent US President Donald Trump, the January 6,
2021 attack on the US Capitol, failed attempts to hold
Trump accountable during Joe Biden’s presidency,
and Trump’s return to office, all of which have
weakened confidence....... in the country’s
political and constitutional safeguards.
Economic anxiety, particularly among younger US citizens, is
another area where the US compares poorly internationally.
US citizens aged 35 and under are far more likely than older
adults to cite affordability and economic pressures - such
as food and housing costs - as their top concern. About
one-third of young US citizens did so, compared with
just 13 percent of those aged 55 and older.
This pattern mirrors trends in other English-speaking countries
facing housing crises, including Australia, Canada and Ireland,
which Vigers described as “It's a literally concrete example -
of young people being locked out of economic progress.”
Older US citizens, meanwhile, are far more preoccupied with
politics and government, with about four in 10 people aged
35 and over ranking it as the country’s most pressing
problem, compared with about two in 10
younger adults.
Gallup’s long-term tracking shows that concern about politics
has risen steadily since 2000 and remained near or above
Watergate-era levels since 2016.
Frank Newport of Gallup linked this trend --- to extreme
polarization, while political scientist Brendan Nyhan
warned of deeper consequences.
“A world where people aren’t optimistic about their
economic futures is one in which they’re willing to
destabilize institutions even further,” Nyhan said.
“Low trust .......is corrosive.”
A new poll indicates that a significant number of US citizens
believe political violence may be necessary to restore the
country’s course.
_______________________________________________
Russia and Brazil call for reform
of the UN Security Council
February 5th, 7:26pm
(Izvestia.ru)
Russia and Brazil consider the reform of the UN Security
Council to be necessary and support the inclusion of developing countries from Latin America, Asia
and Africa. The provision is contained in the
joint statement of the parties following the
VIII meeting of the Russian-Brazilian High
-Level Commission for Cooperation,
published on February 5th on the
Russian government's website.
"We have agreed on the need to promote the reform of the UN
Security Council in order to make it more representative by
including developing countries from Latin America, Asia,
and Africa, in line with the realities of a multipolar
world," the document says.
It is emphasized that Russia has confirmed its support for Brazil
as a candidate for permanent membership in the reformed UN
Security Council. The statement reads: Moscow and Brasilia
believe that it is timely and appropriate to choose a
representative of Latin American and Caribbean
countries as the Secretary-General of the
United Nations.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized on January
28 that Russia supports the transformation of the UN Security
Council. In particular, the minister pointed out that the body
should be made more democratic ---------- by increasing the
number of representatives from the Global South & East.
The vice president of Brazil, Geraldo Alckmin, today highlighted
the possibilities of economic and commercial exchange with
Russia, which currently has relevant levels, but it is
still below the potential of both nations.
Alckmin made the assessment... by leading, together with the
Russian Prime Minister, Mikhail Mishustin, the VIII Meeting of
the High Level Commission on Brazil-Russia Cooperation, a
bilateral mechanism that was resumed, after more than a
decade, without formal meetings.
According to the Brazilian vice president, the trade volume
recorded last year (11 billion dollars) does not reflect the
real possibilities of cooperation between Brazil and
Russia, two economies with extensive industrial,
technological and scientific development.
In addition, he defended the expansion of Russian investments
in Brazil, especially in strategic sectors such as energy,
fertilizers, the chemical industry, infrastructure
and advanced manufacturing.
He also referred to the opportunities for Brazilian companies to
increase their presence in the Russian market, particularly
in areas such as processed foods, machinery, industrial
equipment, medical devices and technology -- linked
to agribusiness.
For his part, Mishustin expressed that his country is willing to
share with Brazil --- its achievements in the development of
nuclear energy technologies for peaceful purposes, and
to develop cooperation in areas such as artificial
intelligence, digital public services and
automated solutions.
The prime minister maintained that, for the successful
implementation of the common plans, it is necessary
to increase reciprocal payments in national
currencies, to develop direct banking
interactions, and more actively use
....an independent payments and
settlement architecture - form
modern transport corridors -
and create new production
logistics chains.
He highlighted ---- that the visit of the Russian delegation
to Brasilia - is carried out at the request of President
Vladimir Putin, who has highlighted both nations,
founders of the BRICS, as coherent and like-
minded allies when it comes to the
formation of a truly just and
multipolar world order.
For us, Brazil is the main external economic partner in Latin
America, and represents approximately half of the total
volume of trade in goods with the region, in addition
to maintaining leading positions in the national
market among meat and coffee suppliers,
he indicated.
For its part, Russia covers around a quarter of Brazil's import
needs for mineral fertilizers. «This mutually beneficial
cooperation allows us to jointly make a significant
contribution to ensuring food security”,
he highlighted.
According to Brazilian media, the bilateral mechanism that
meets this Thursday... will allow the establishment of
permanent working groups and a roadmap aimed
at expanding trade, investments and strategic
cooperation.... in the coming years.
_____________________________________
Cuba designs economic
transformations... with
popular participation
February 5th, 11:29am
(Prensa Latina)
The president of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, highlighted today
the importance ....of the deliberative spaces of the Party
and the government, and he announced a set of urgent
economic and social transformations, designed with
popular participation.
During a conference with both national and foreign media, the
president stated that the recent provincial plenary sessions
of the Communist Party of Cuba and its municipal organs,
have been spaces, not only for debate, but of
“consensus construction”.
Díaz-Canel defended 3 pillars for party and government work:
political and social communication, digital transformation
with artificial intelligence, and science and innovation
as a method to find solutions to complex problems.
When detailing the “necessary transformations” that must be
worked on more quickly, the president listed the consensus
that emerged........ from the popular debate for the
government program.
The first is an improvement of the economic management
system, seeking an adequate relationship between
centralized planning and certain market signals,
as well as.... between centralization
and decentralization.
Announced a new currency allocation
system for economic activity.
The second transformation... is a restructuring of the state,
government and party apparatus - to eliminate duplication,
reduce budget expenses in non-productive structures..
and increase efficiency, in the context of negative
demographic dynamics.
A central axis presented by the president ------ was
the “definitive autonomy of the state company”,
accompanied by a resizing of the business
sector at the municipal level.
Díaz-Canel emphasized the export role of companies, which
generate income in foreign currency and with it buy their
inputs and fuel..... without always depending on
central allocations.
This process, he noted, is intrinsically linked to a third
transformation: the autonomy of the municipalities.
The strategy, he explained, is to strengthen local production
systems - so that the territories can be fundamentally self-
sufficient, a vital concept in the face of fuel shortages.
“We are defending as a concept ---- that we are going
to eat what is produced in each place”, he stressed.
The head of state commented --- that this change entails a
review of the concept of the regulated basic basket and
announced other transformations -------- that include:
renegotiating the external debt, & strengthening
economic partnerships between the state
and non-state sectors.
Likewise, he urged taking advantage of flexibility for foreign
direct investment, stimulating the participation of Cubans
residing abroad, and prioritizing the energy
transformation already explained.
He insisted on the need to perfect tax and monetary policy,
clean up finances and modernize the banking system.
During his speech, the president also referred to the heroism
of the people in the midst of the complex situation and
defined the Cuban resistance as one of creation
and improvement.
Regarding young people, he stated: “there is no unity if young
people are not in that unity. There is no continuity without
young people”.
The president announced that in the coming days....... other
members of the Government and the Party will offer details
of the measures discussed, especially those related to
the critical energy situation.
_______________________________________
Hanoi Press, Radio and
Television Agency
established
February 5th, 7:28am
(Prensa Latina)
The brand new Hanoi Press, Radio and Television Agency was
formally established here today with the appointment of its
general director, Vu Minh Tuan, three deputy directors
and a seven-member Editorial Board.
At the founding ceremony, the secretary of the Committee of
the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) in this capital,
Nguyen Duy Ngoc, it meant that the creation of this
Agency --- marks the beginning of a new stage for
the capital's press, responding to the demands
of the new era.
“The road ahead, is not without challenges, but I believe that
with courage, intelligence, dedication - and a spirit of unity -
this group will fulfill the assigned mission with excellence”,
duy Ngoc said, quoted by the Hanoi Moi newspaper.
For his part, the director of the new Agency, Vu Minh Tuan,
pointed out that it is not simply a fusion of media, but a
strategic requirement -- aimed at turning the capital's
press into a truly leading force in the dissemination
of information, the orientation of public opinion
and the creation of solutions.
Further, it will accompany the Party Committee, the
government and the people of Hanoi - on their
development journey - to become a global,
civilized and modern city, he stressed.
The Hanoi Press, Radio and Television Agency, arises from the
union of the newspapers Hanoi Moi, Kinh Te & Do Thi, Phu Nu
Thu Do, Lao Dong Thu Do and Tuoi Tre Thu Do, and the radio
and television station of this city.
The editor-in-chief of the newspapers Hanoi Moi, Nguyen Minh
Duc, & Kinh Te & Do Thi, Nguyen Thanh Loi, were appointed
as its deputy directors, and the general director of the
capital's radio and television station, Nguyen Kim
Khiem (born in 1975).
_________________________________________
India-Russia cooperation in
nuclear energy continues
to be active
February 5th, 2:17am
(Prensa Latina)
Cooperation between India and Russia in the field of
nuclear energy remains active today with periodic
talks, the department in charge of the sector of
the South Asian nation assured, in a letter
to Parliament.
According to a written statement by the Department of Atomic
Energy (DAE), exchanges are maintained with the Rosatom
State Atomic Energy Corporation, a multi-sector holding
company comprising assets in energy engineering,
machine building, and construction.
He noted that the meetings aim to strengthen bilateral
cooperation, included on the construction of large-
capacity nuclear power plants and small modular
reactors (SMR), with safety as the top priority
at all stages of construction.
The Indian entity noted that nuclear plants are built strictly
following the phased authorizations of the Atomic Energy
Regulatory Board (AERB).
He added that, among other aspects, the government
implements numerous initiatives around new sites
where projects are being built .........or in
existing operations.
According to the notification, numerous social welfare
programs have also been implemented, mainly in the
areas of education, infrastructure development and
sanitation, to benefit the populations surrounding
these facilities.
The 2025-2026 national budget outlines a significant
push towards nuclear energy as part of India's long
-term energy transition strategy.
The government has set an ambitious goal of 100 GW
of nuclear energy capacity by 2047, positioning that
source as a fundamental pillar of the national
energy matrix.
This development aligns with the country's broader long
-term development goals to ensure energy reliability
and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, according
to the Indian authorities.
To achieve this goal ---- strategic policy interventions and
infrastructure investments are made, with emphasis on
indigenous nuclear technology and public-private
collaborations, New Delhi explained.
Taking this into account, the government presented the
Nuclear Energy Mission for Viksit Bharat, with which it aims to improve national nuclear capabilities,
promote private sector participation --- and
accelerate the deployment of advanced
technologies, such as Small Modular
Reactors (SMR).
__________________________________________
The BBC reported on the eviction
of former Prince Andrew from
Windsor Castle
February 4th, 1:02am
(Izvestia.ru)
Former Prince Andrew of the United Kingdom, stripped of
his titles in connection with the Epstein case, moved
from Windsor Castle... to Sandringham estate in
Norfolk. This was reported on February 3
by the TV channel, BBC.
"Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor .....has moved from his home in Windsor to Sandringham House in Norfolk,"
the broadcaster added.
It is noted that this location is temporary, and Andrew will live on Marsh Farm ...after the repairs.
Earlier, on December 23, it was reported that ex-Prince Andrew
used Sandringham, one of Queen Elizabeth II's favorite estates
for at least one meeting with Epstein's convicted accomplice,
Ghislaine Maxwell. It was noted that Andrew hosted women
believed to be his mistresses at Sandringham, as part of
his interactions with Epstein and his inner circle.
The US Department of Justice --- started publishing Epstein's files
after US President Donald Trump signed a bill on November 19
to make them public. On December 20th, Russian Foreign
Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova joked about
the line of people... waiting to read the documents
that were declassified on the US Department of
Justice website.
The first part of the documents, which contained the names
of more than 150 people involved in the financier's case,
was published in January 2024. Among the materials
released were images of Bill Clinton, British Prince
Andrew, and Microsoft founder... Bill Gates.
____________________________________________
Senator Nikonorova spoke about
the mass protests in Ukraine
by Yulia Ryabinina
February 3rd, 10:44pm
(Rossiyskaya Gazeta)
To share
Mass protests periodically occur in Ukraine due to serious
problems in the economic and social spheres. Natalia
Nikonorova, a DPR senator, told RIA Novosti
about this.
According to her, high tensions - in various areas,
including the critical state of the public utilities
in Ukraine, periodically lead to mass protests.
The country also faces -- major economic
and social challenges, the senator noted.
"There are -- big problems in the economic sphere, and
the state budget has long been bursting at the seams
in the social sphere," the agency's interlocutor said.
She also recalled the confrontation between Ukrainians
and territorial recruitment centres (an analogue of
military enlistment offices) that was provoked
by forced mobilization.
Earlier, it was reported that there have been increased
protests against the authorities in Ukraine. Anti-
government demonstrations have also been
sparked, by growing corruption in the
country and the lack of law and
order regarding the military
and their families.
____________________
Libyan media.. reported the death
of Seif al-Islam Gaddafi in Zintan
by Alexey Merkulov (Tunisia)
February 3rd, 6:53pm
To share
Libyan media outlets have reported the death of Seif al-Islam
Gaddafi, the son of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi,
during clashes in the Zintan region.
Al-Masar TV channel, citing Abdallah Osman, a representative
of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi in the political dialogue, reported
that he had confirmed his death in a shootout in Zintan.
At the same time, Brigade 444 denied any connection to
the clashes in Zintan and the rumours surrounding
Gaddafi's death.
"We confirm.. that there are no forces or field deployments within
the city of Zintan or its geographical area, and we deny issuing
any instructions or orders related to the pursuit of Seif al-Islam
Gaddafi," the armed group's leadership stated.
Libyan media outlets, citing Abdallah Osman --- have reported
that Seif al-Islam Gaddafi was killed in his home. The attack
was carried out by four unknown individuals, according to
the source.
According to Gaddafi's advisor, the Libyan prosecutor general
has ordered a criminal investigation into the murder of the
Jamahiriya leader's son.
Seif al-Islam Gaddafi is the second son of Muammar Gaddafi,
born on June 25, 1972, in Tripoli. Until 2011, he was the de
facto heir to his father. During this time, he served as the head of the Gaddafi Foundation and actively
participated in the negotiations.. regarding
Libya's nuclear program (2003-2004).
He also holds a PhD from the London School of Economics. In
2011, he coordinated propaganda and loyal forces during the
civil war, and in November, he was captured by rebels in
Obar, wounded.
From 2011 to 2017, he was under arrest in the city of Zintan,
and in 2015, he was sentenced to death in absentia in
Tripoli (the sentence was later annulled).
After his release, he lived in the southern regions of Libya
(Sebha/Obar) -- under the protection of Gaddafi's loyalist
forces. In November 2021, he announced his intention
to run for president.. and registered as a candidate,
but the General National Congress (the country's
legislative body) - rejected his candidacy, due to
a ''criminal record'' and an ICC warrant issued
in 2011..... for "crimes against humanity."
Recently..... Seif al-Islam has remained one of the most
influential informal figures in southern Libya, without
holding any official positions but maintaining his
influence through armed structures..... and
occasional statements through proxies.
[Rhondda Records adds: we grieve at the loss of
this very courageous man ------ who was Libya's
best hope of regaining its strength and vision.]
__________________________________________
Vietnam preparing for possible
US military aggression:
Leaked report
February 3rd, 3:44pm
(PressTV)
A leaked internal document shows Vietnam is preparing,
politically and militarily, for a potential US invasion,
casting Washington as a threat to the country’s
sovereignty rather than a reliable partner.
Just a year after bringing its ties with Washington to their
highest diplomatic level, Vietnam’s military leadership
has been preparing for a possible US "war of
aggression," --------- viewing the US as a
"belligerent power," according to a
report released on Tuesday, by
The 88 Project ---- a human
rights group monitoring
''developments''
in Vietnam.
The document underscores Hanoi’s deep concern that
Washington could try to destabilize the Vietnamese
government through a so-called "colour revolution,"
drawing parallels to Ukraine’s 2004 Orange
Revolution and the Philippines’ 1986
Yellow Revolution — both widely
viewed by Vietnamese officials,
as products of US interference.
“There is a consensus here across the government.... and
across different ministries … This is not just some kind
of a fringe element - or paranoid element - within the
ruling Communist party or within the government,”
said Ben Swanton, co-director of the 88 Project
and the author of the report.
The Vietnamese document, titled “The 2nd US Invasion Plan,”
was completed by the Ministry of Defense in August 2024
and outlines what officials see - as an escalating pattern
of US military behavior across multiple administrations.
Vietnamese military analysts... trace a pattern over three US administrations, from Barack Obama through Trump’s first term... to Joe Biden, noting that Washington has steadily intensified its military and strategic engagements .....across Asia.
“Due to the US's belligerent nature - we need to be vigilant
to prevent the US and its allies from ‘creating a pretext’
to launch an invasion of our country,” the plan says.
The document paints a dark picture of Washington’s intentions,
asserting that the US seeks to “spread and impose its values
regarding freedom, democracy, human rights, ethnicity and
religion” ....as a means.... to undermine and ultimately
dismantle Vietnam’s socialist political system.
Swanton writes that “The 2nd US Invasion Plan” -- offers a rare
and blunt insight into Hanoi’s foreign policy thinking, showing
that Vietnam views Washington not as a genuine strategic
partner but as an existential threat, and has no intention
of being drawn into a US-led bloc aimed at China.
Recent US military actions abroad have further reinforced
these fears. Washington’s ''operations'' in and around
Venezuela, including the abduction of Venezuelan
President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia
Flores on January 3 -- have intensified
Vietnamese distrust toward closer
engagement with the US.
Experts warn that any US military aggression against Cuba,
another close ally of Hanoi, would send shockwaves
through Vietnam’s military and political leadership,
severely disrupting --- the "fragile regional and
strategic balance."
____________________________________________
Díaz-Canel describes US measures: as
a genocidal blockade -- against Cuba
February 3rd, 1:56pm
(Prensa Latina)
President Miguel Díaz-Canel denounced today, that the total
embargo signed by the United States 64 years ago against
Cuba has become a "genocidal blockade" and an
economic war ------------ due to the actions of 12 US administrations.
Through the social network X, the president recalled that on
February 3, in 1962, Democratic President John F. Kennedy
«signed and made official the policy of an economic siege
of Cuba», a policy that according to Díaz-Canel has been
turned into an instrument of extreme pressure.
«Twelve administrations from both parties - have been
transforming it into a Genocidal Blockade», stated
the head of state, who cited the historical leader
Fidel Castro, when specifying that «this ----- is called Economic War».
The president's statement coincides with the latest escalation
of US sanctions, marked by the executive order issued on
January 29 by Donald Trump that seeks to block the
supply of oil to the island through sanctions on
third countries.
Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez had previously described this
measure as an attempt to make «humanity complicit --- in a
terrible oil blockade» with unprecedented humanitarian
consequences for the Cuban civilian population.
This gentleman picks holes in the intellectual ''mistakes'' of the West and points to the best solution for the world's people.
Britain's enemy is not Russia but its own ruling class, UN report confirms by John Wight November 19th, at 2:48pm
John Wight has written for a variety of newspapers and websites, including the Independent, Morning Star, Huffington Post, Counter- punch, London Progressive Journal, and Foreign Policy Journal.
As the UK political establishment rips itself to pieces over Brexit, a far greater crisis continues to afflict millions of victims of Tory austerity.
A devastating UN report into poverty in the UK provides incontrovertible evidence, that the enemy of the British people, is the very ruling class that has gone out of its way these past few years to convince them it is Russia.
Professor Philip Alston, in his capacity as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, spent two weeks touring the United Kingdom. He did so, investigating the impact of 8 years of one of the most extreme austerity programs among advanced G20 economies in response to the 2008 financial crash and subsequent global recession.
What he found was evidence of a systematic, wilful, concerted and brutal economic war, unleashed by the country's right-wing Tory establishment, against the poorest and most vulnerable section of British society – upending the lives of millions of people who were not responsible for the aforementioned financial crash and recession, but who have been forced to pay the price.
From the report's introduction:
"It…seems patently unjust and contrary to British values that so many people are living in poverty. This is obvious to anyone who opens their eyes: to see the immense growth in foodbanks, and the queues waiting outside them, the people sleeping rough in the streets, the growth of homelessness, the sense of deep despair - that leads even the Government to appoint a Minister for Suicide Prevention - and civil society to report in depth, on unheard of levels of loneliness and isolation."
Though as a citizen of the UK, I respectfully beg to differ with the professor's claim, that such social & economic carnage, seems "contrary to British values,"(on the contrary - it is entirely in keeping with the values of the country's Tory establishment, an establishment for whom, the dehumanization of the poor and working class, is central to its ideology), the point he makes about it being "obvious to anyone who opens their eyes," is well made.
For it is now the case that in every town and city centre in Britain, it is impossible to walk in any direction for more than a minute, before coming across homeless people begging in the street. And the fact that some 13,000 of them, are former soldiers, casualties of the country's various military adventures in recent years, undertaken in service to Washington, exposes the pious platitudes peddled by politicians & the government as reverence for the troops & their 'sacrifice,' as insincere garbage.
As inequality increases, the wealthy and powerful become more desperate to cling onto their gains and distract us - with imagined threats and political sideshows - such as Jingoism, Russophobia and red-baiting...
Overall, 14 million people in the UK are now living in poverty, a figure which translates into an entire fifth of the population. Four million of them are children, while, according to Professor Alston, 1.5 million people are destitute – that is, unable to afford the basic necessities of life.
And this is what the ruling class of the fifth largest economy in the world, a country that parades itself on the world stage, as a pillar of democracy and human rights, considers progress.
The values responsible for creating such a grim social landscape, are compatible with the 18th, not the 21st century. They are proof positive, that the network of elite private schools – Eton, Harrow, Fettes College et al. – where those responsible for this human carnage are inculcated with the sense of entitlement and born to rule ethos that defines them, are Britain's hotbeds of extremism.
Professor Alston:"British compassion for those who are suffering, has been replaced by a punitive, mean-spirited, and often callous approach, apparently designed to instill discipline where it is least useful, to impose a rigid order on the lives of those least capable of coping with today's world, and elevating the goal of enforcing blind compliance, over a genuine concern to improve the well- being of those at the lowest levels of British society."
Here, set out above in bold relief, is the barbarism that walks - hand in hand - with free market capitalism. It is the same barbarism that was responsible for pushing post-Soviet Russia into a decade-long economic and social abyss, in the 1990s, and the values that have pushed 14 million people in the UK into the same economic and social abyss, in our time.
Austerity, it bears emphasizing, is not and never has been, a viable economic response to recession, in a given economy.
Instead, it is an ideological club, wielded on behalf of the rich and big business, to ensure that the price paid for the said economic recession, is borne exclusively by those least able to bear it - namely the poor and working people. It is class war by any other name, packaged and presented, as legitimate government policy.
However in Britain's case in 2018, this is a war like no other, because, as Professor Philip Alston's report lays bare, one side in this war has been throwing all the punches and one side has been taking them.
As the saying goes, wars take place when the government tells you who the enemy is; revolutions take place when you work it out for yourself.
(Source - RT)
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Keiser Report: Reality of Creditor Jubilees
- fantastic - asks ''why don't we act like Jesus preached - and forgive debt?''
When what we do now, is what led to the slavery of feudalism: by refunding the creditors, instead!
Marx's theory still shines with truth: Xi May 4th, at 10:53am
Xinhua - Two centuries on, despite huge and profound changes in human society, the name of Karl Marx is still respected all over the world and his theory still shines with the brilliant light of truth, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a grand gathering in Beijing to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Marx's birth.
Xi said Marx is the "teacher of revolution for the proletariat and working people all over the world, the main founder of Marxism, creator of Marxist parties, a pathfinder for international communism and the greatest thinker of modern times."
"Today, we hold this grand gathering with great veneration to mark the 200th anniversary of Marx's birth, to remember his great character and historic deeds and to review his noble spirit and brilliant thoughts," Xi said at the event.
''With noble ideals and no fear of difficulty or adversity, throughout his life, Marx devoted himself to perseveringly striving for the liberation of humanity, scaling the peak of thought in his pursuit of truth, and the unremitting fight to overturn the old world and establish a new one'', according to Xi.
''Marx is not only a great figure who bore the weight of the world, but also an ordinary person with a passion for life, who was sincere and true to his friends'', Xi said.
''The most valuable and influential spiritual asset that Marx left us is the scientific theory named after him -- Marxism. Like a spectacular sunrise, the theory illuminated the path of humanity's exploration of the law of history, and humanity's search for their own liberation'', Xi said.
"The thought and theory of Marx are of his times and go beyond his times," Xi said. "They are the essence of the spirit of that times and the essence of the spirit of all humanity."
Xi said Marxism is a scientific theory that reveals the rules of human society's development, in a creative manner.
Having developed the materialist conception of history and surplus value theory, Marx showed how humanity would leap from the realm of necessity, to the realm of freedom, and also showed the road for people to realize freedom and liberation, Xi said.
Marxism, the first ideology for the liberation of the people themselves, is a theory of the people.
"Marxism, for the first time, explored the path for humanity's freedom and liberation from the stance of the people, and pointed out the direction, with scientific theory, toward an ideal society with no oppression or exploitation, where every person would enjoy equality and freedom," Xi said.
Stressing that practicality is a prominent characteristic of Marxism that makes it different from other theories, Xi said Marxism is a theory of practices that directs the people to change the world.
It is an open theory that is constantly developing and always stands at the frontier of the times, Xi said.
"That is why it is always able to keep young, explore the new issues in the development of the times and respond to the new challenges for human society."
The general secretary said that over the 170 years since publication of The Communist Manifesto, Marxism had been spread around the world, unrivaled in the history of human ideology in terms of the breadth and depth of its influence.
After the end of World War II, a large number of socialist countries were established, Xi said, stressing that the founding of the People's Republic of China, especially, has greatly increased the socialist strength in the world.
"There might be setbacks in the development of socialism in the world, but the overall trend for human society's development has never changed, and it will never change," Xi said.
"Marxism has not only profoundly changed the world, but also China," Xi said.
The reverberations of the October Revolution in Russia brought Marxism-Leninism to China, pointing out the direction forward, offering a brand new choice for the Chinese people in their struggle to survive, and setting the scene for the birth of the CPC.
Since the CPC's birth, it has combined the fundamental principles of Marxism with the reality of the Chinese revolution and construction, transforming the Chinese nation from "the sick man of East Asia" to one who has stood up, by uniting and leading the people through long-term struggle.
"This tremendous transformation serves as cast iron proof that only through socialism, can we save China," Xi said.
Since reform and opening up, the CPC has combined the fundamental principles of Marxism, with the reality of China's reform and opening up, and the nation who stood up, has grown rich.
"This tremendous transformation serves as cast iron proof that only through socialism with Chinese characteristics, can we develop China," Xi said.
In the new era, the CPC again combined the fundamental principles of Marxism with the reality of China in this new era, uniting and leading the people in "under- taking the great struggle, building the great project, advancing the great cause and realizing the great dream."
The Chinese nation has come to embrace a tremendous transformation, as the one who has grown rich, now, is becoming strong.
"This tremendous transformation serves as cast iron proof that only by adhering to and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, can we realize national rejuvenation," Xi said.
"It is perfectly right for history and the people to choose Marxism, as well as for the CPC to write Marxism on its own flag, to adhere to the principle of combining the fundamental principles of Marxism, with China's reality, and continuously adapt Marxism to the Chinese context and the times."
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China lifts 740 mln rural poor out of poverty since 1978 September 3rd, at 12:57pm
Xinhua - China lifted 740 million people in rural areas out of poverty from 1978 to 2017, roughly 19 million each year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on Monday.
The poverty ratio in rural areas dropped 94.4 percentage points during the same time period with an average annual decrease of 2.4 percentage points, according to the NBS.
NBS data shows that China's poverty relief achievements have contributed more than 70 percent to global poverty alleviation work, in the past 40 years.
The average annual income of rural residents in impoverished areas rose an average of 10.4 percent each year from 2012 to 2017, up 2.5 percentage points from the average for rural residents.
Over the past five years, over 68 million people were lifted out of poverty in China. The country aims to further lift 10 million people out of poverty this year and eradicate poverty by 2020.
China recently released guidelines on winning the battle against poverty in the next three years, in order to prepare the nation for eradicating poverty by 2020.
According to the guidelines, the impoverished people should be guaranteed food & clothing, and children from poor families should be guaranteed a 9-year compulsory education. Basic medical needs and living conditions of the impoverished, should also be guaranteed.
People whose annual income is lower than 2,300 yuan (337.3 U.S. dollars), are defined as living below the poverty line, in China.
Almost half of Russians see USSR collapse as shameful – poll January 17th, at 12:11pm
The collapse of the Soviet Union is considered a reason to be ashamed, by 45 percent of Russians, according to a recent opinion poll. The only option that scored higher, is Russia’s failure to eradicate poverty.
The poll, conducted in late 2018, by the Levada Center is its latest study of what Russians are proud and ashamed of, about their nation. The demise of the USSR, saw a rebound in popularity from a low point of 28 percent in mid-2015, and is at a level comparable with the late 1990s and early 2000s.
The only more popular answer is Russia’s failure to eradicate poverty, which was named as a reason to be ashamed, by 61 percent of the people polled. This answer has topped Levada’s polls, for decades.
Russians are also ashamed of fellow countrymen treating each other disrespectfully (37 percent), Russia’s failure to catch up economically with the Western powers (24 percent), the out- come of Mikhail Gorbachev’s reforms (24 percent), and Joseph Stalin’s reign of terror (21 percent).
On the opposite side of Russians’ national identity are the qualities and events, people are proud of.
Defeating Nazi Germany in World War II remains the one thing Russians are overwhelmingly proud of (87 percent).
There is also the role that the country played in space exploration – about half are proud to belong to a space pioneering nation.
The third most popular option is accepting Crimea (the breakaway former Ukrainian region) as part of Russia again, which is seen as a point of national pride, by 45 percent.
Many people are also proud of Russian literature, science, and martial prowess, Soviet-era industrialization and the best qualities of the Russian character, like resolve and patience.
A record 75 percent said Russia is definitely, or most likely, a great nation today, while 88 percent believe that it should be one.
There was no apparent correlation between wishing greatness for Russia and regretting the USSR’s collapse, the agency noted, suggesting that Russians expect a great nation to - first and foremost - provide social justice, and protection.
Sixty-two percent said the Russians are a great people.
Levada remarked that about 80 percent of the people polled, identified themselves as Russians.
When asked what makes them feel connected to their people, most respondents named national history (53 percent), Russia’s land (35 percent), their place of birth (33 percent), and the nature that they call their own (25 percent).
The formal national symbols, including the flag, the coat of arms, and the national anthem, was the least popular option (5 percent).
Interestingly, religion is a relatively small factor in Russian national identity (9 percent).
(Source - RT)
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Number of Russians who regret collapse of USSR hits 10-year high December 26th, 2017, at 7:20am
The number of Russians who regret the collapse of the Soviet Union has reached its highest level since 2009, with almost an equal share saying the event could have been avoided.
A public opinion poll conducted by the independent Levada Center in late November this year found that 58 percent of Russians now regret the collapse of the USSR. Twenty-five percent said they felt no regret about this, and 16 percent could not describe their feelings in one word.
When researchers asked those who regret the end of the USSR what the primary reasons were behind their sentiments, 54 percent said that they missed a single economic system, 36 percent said they had lost the feeling of belonging to a real superpower, 34 percent complained about the drop in mutual trust among ordinary people, and 26 percent said that the collapse had destroyed the ties between friends and relatives.
The same research showed that 52 percent of Russians think that the collapse of the USSR could have been avoided, 29 percent said that the event was absolutely inevitable, and 19 percent did not have a fixed opinion on the matter.
The share of those who regret the demise of the Soviet Union has risen continuously over the past decade, but in 2009 it was even higher than today – at 60 percent. The all-time high – 75 percent – was recorded in 2000.
President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly addressed the issue of the collapse of the USSR in his speeches. In an address to the Russian parliament in 2005 he called the event the greatest geopolitical disaster of the 20th century and a cause of major disruption for the Russian people. In September 2016, Putin said the Communist Party should have transformed the Soviet Union into a democratic state, rather than see it break into separate nations.
At the same time, Putin has always emphasized that he and other Russian officials have no plans to revive the USSR, and has expressed anger that people cannot accept this. He's also accused Western governments of deliberately confusing modern Russia with the USSR and harming the interests of ordinary people, on the pretense of preventing an imaginary threat.
Historian:Russia's October Revolution Was Inevitable, Relatively Bloodless November 10th, at 4:33pm by Ekaterina Blinova
The October Uprising of 1917 became the logical conclusion of the February Revolution, Michael J. Carley, a professor of history at the Universite de Montreal has told Sputnik. According to the academic, the Russian Revolution was inevitable and occurred because evolutionary processes of change to benefit the lives of ordinary people had failed.
"February 1917 marked the beginning of a revolutionary change in power in Russia, that was accomplished in October," Michael Jabara Carley, professor of history at the Université de Montréal and the author of "Silent Conflict: A Hidden History of Early Soviet-Western Relations,"told Sputnik, commenting on the 100th anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution.
"The tsarist order was bankrupt and doomed. Almost everyone at the time said so. The immediate cause of the bankruptcy was the Great War [The First World War]," the Canadian academic stressed, adding that "the result was calamity marked by millions of casualties, large territories lost and an economy thrown into chaos, by the unsustainable financial and economic demands of fighting a world war."
Russian Provisional Government: 'Neither Revolutionary, Nor Democratic'
The so-called February Revolution, which is regarded as a combination of a popular uprising with an elitist anti- monarchist plot, led to the abdication of Russian Emperor Nicholas II and the establishment of the Provisional Government.
Still, the Provisional Government"was neither revolutionary nor democratic,"the academic pointed out: The crux of the matter was that it was largely controlled by the "bourgeois" urban and rural elites and old tsarist establishment"that was opposed to the revolution and attempted to block its further development."
October Uprising Was Relatively Bloodless
The professor explained why, contrary to popular belief, the October Revolution of 1917 that took place on November 7 (October 25 in the Julian calendar) was relatively bloodless.
"Well, in the first instance because the Provisional Government was utterly discredited. It had no popular support. It was a head without a body. It could give orders or issue decrees, but had no power to enforce them. In a revolutionary period, power comes from the support of the insurgent masses and the Provisional Government had none,"Carley told Sputnik.
The professor suggested that 1917 could have been averted if old elites as well as their forebears had not blocked"political and economic evolutionary processes"in Russia.
'Provisional Government Became a Cork in the Bottle'
"The Provisional Government became a cork in the bottle holding back the revolution,"the historian said."The revolutionary masses in Petrograd [Saint Petersburg] and elsewhere put pressure on their socialist leaders to blow the cork out of the bottle…. It was the Bolsheviks who put themselves at the head of the mass movement & articulated its demands, essentially peace, bread and land."
He pointed out, however, that"the Bolsheviks themselves were not united on all the big issues and most importantly on the seizure of power in October (the Julian calendar)."
"I would propose that the Provisional Government collapsed of its own rot. The insurgent masses led by the Bolsheviks only had to kick it over,"Carley remarked.
Was the October Revolution of 1917 Inevitable?
"It is a question impossible to answer except in this way: popular revolutions come about because political and economic elites over time are too selfish to share wealth and power with the masses,"Carley responded."Like the tsarist autocracy, they treat the masses as a resource to be exploited and rung dry. When evolutionary processes of change fail, revolution is often the result."
According to the academic, it is wrong to think that such revolutions succeed "because of the evil genius and cruelty of a small revolutionary elite"
"They succeed because of mass support and effective, responsive leadership."
The question then arises as to whether it was possible to follow an evolutionary path, rather than go through a revolution.
"A revolution occurred because evolutionary processes of change to benefit the lives of ordinary people had failed,"the professor responded."Serfdom, inequality, exploitation, violence, continued unabated until 1917."
October 1917: 'Driver of Transformations Across the Globe'. Revisiting the October Revolution of 1917.
Addressing the 14th Annual Meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that"the largely utopian social model and ideology" the Soviets tried to implement initially following the 1917 revolution became "a powerful driver of transformations across the globe, caused a major revaluation of development models, and gave rise to rivalry and competition, the benefits of which were mostly reaped by the West."
The Canadian professor disagrees that the term "utopian" could be used with regards to the "Communist model," for instance.
"Is free, public education for everyone, no matter what their class, nationality or religion, utopian? Is the elimination of illiteracy, utopian? Are women's rights, or universal health care, utopian? Was the desire to create a more equal society, socially, economically and politically, utopian?"Carley asked, adding"in fact, that Soviet society was eventually able to withstand and then to destroy almost single- handedly, the so-called invincible Nazi 'colossus.'"
Still, he believes that the 1917 revolution certainly was"a powerful driver of transformations"around the world since it"inspired successful revolutionary movements in China, Vietnam, Korea, and Cuba."
As Putin noted during his Valdai speech "many Western achievements of the 20th century were an answer to the challenge posed by the Soviet Union," such as"raising living standards, forming a strong middle class, reforming the labour market and the social sphere, promoting education, guaranteeing human rights, including the rights of minorities and women, overcoming racial segregation."
Red October: Allied Intervention and 'Beginning of Cold War'
The October Revolution became the trigger for the Civil War (1917-1922) and prompted the Allied intervention of major foreign powers in Russia.
The Canadian academic pointed out that the October Uprising "produced an immediate violent reaction by the United States, France and Britain, whose elites attempted to overthrow the Soviet government."
"The foreign intervention against Soviet Russia fed a civil war and exacerbated the violence of the counter-revolution by many times over,"Carley said."On its own, the former tsarist elite could never have mounted such violent resistance to the October Revolution."
The professor underscored that after their failure to overthrow the Soviets,"the Western powers spent the next 70 years, with the exception of a truce between 1941-1945, in trying to harm or bring down the USSR and all those revolutions to which it had given birth."
According to the academic, the Cold War started in October (November) 1917.
"Just ask the Chinese, Vietnamese, Cubans, or N. Koreans about the frightful price of resistance to US and Western hegemony,"Carley remarked."Or for that matter, we might ask, if we could, the soldiers, sailors and workers of Soviet Russia, what price they had to pay, to defend their revolution."
(Source - Sputnik)
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Communist leader dispels new Russian budget as "oligarch orientated" October 28th, 2017 Fort Russ News - KtovKurse translated by Inessa Sinchougova
Communist Party leader, Gennady Zyuganov, called the draft federal budget for 2018-2020, "a budget of the oligarchy", which will increase stagnation and poverty.
On Friday October 27th, the State Duma considered the first reading of the draft budget for 2018 for the planning period 2019-2020. According to the draft of the Ministry of Finance, the budget deficit in 2018 will be 1.3 trillion rubles or 1.37% of GDP, in 2019 it will be 867 billion rubles or 0.84% of GDP, and in 2020 - 960 billion rubles or 0.87% of GDP.
Such a budget Zyuganov considers "a budget for the oligarchy, where further stagnation and deepening of poverty in the country will occur."
In his opinion, the draft budget does not meet the current challenges and can only aggravate the split in Russian civil society.
The Communist Party leader stressed that incomes and expenditures are constantly declining. Zyuganov noted that "in plain language" this means that the "share of the national pie" created by the working people is constantly shrinking in the budget.
Zyuganov's main issue with the budget was the reduction in government expenses for 14 out of 13 articles listed within. He explained that for eight of these articles, expenses are simply cut, and for four other articles, a small increase is offset by inflation, and as a result, real costs are below the ones prophesized.
According to Zyuganov, the current budget policy "creeps of the old Gaidar-Chubais reforms. It does not smell of modernization, nor a breakthrough for the future."
"I do not know why the president has not reacted to this helplessness, to this impotence of the financial and economic blockade on behalf of the government," Zyuganov said.
President Vladimir Putin does not oversee forthcoming bills until they pass all the stages of parliamentary negotiation - that is until his signature is required. It remains to be said that a majority of Russia's parliament and governmental organs, are liberal representatives, both economically and culturally, whereby it is only the President that stops certain bills being passed.
Without looking at the document in detail (which is not yet available to the public) it makes sense to assume that the Communist Party leader has every right to become concerned at this early stage.
Zyuganov's Communist Party enjoys the second most popular rating in the Russian political sphere, after United Russia (Vladimir Putin.)
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And a Record Number of Russians Want Socialism Back !!!
First published in Komsomolskaya Pravda Translated by Kristina Kharlova
The number of those nostalgic for the Soviet Union, is now growing steadily.
According to the findings of sociologists, 56% of respondents now express regret for the collapse of the Soviet state.
A majority of Russians regret the collapse of the Soviet Union, and do not mind if it's restored — conclude the sociologists of "Levada-centre".
2016 sees a record number of respondents nostalgic for the Soviet Union, in the whole history of public opinion surveys.
At the same time, the percentage of those who don't long for the Union, decreases over time: if, in November of last year it was 37%, today only 28% do not feel any pity.
58% of Russians would like a socialist system and the Soviet Union to be restored, and 31% say they don't want the Soviet Union back.
Over half of respondents, 51%, believe that it was still possible to save the country in 1991 while 33% of Russians say the collapse was 'inevitable'.
Experts, meanwhile, note that those most nostalgic for the Soviet Union don't yearn so much for the Soviet ideology, as for the stability, justice, confidence in the future, secure jobs, free education, medical care and housing.
Serbia:Mass anti-NATO demonstrations silenced Nothing has been the same since NATO brutally bombed Yugoslavia 17 years ago. The 5th column, trained by NATO, took over the destroyed country to continue the job that the West had started.
The economy collapsed, the country was ripped apart, and the Army, dismissed.
Year by year, malicious plans brainstormed by NATO, and executed by the government, are pushing all of the Balkans into the deep maw of the West's 'modern' imperialism.
The latest move was the Agreement with NATO about logistics. Parliament has approved, and the President has signed, an agreement which gives NATO soldiers immunity and freedom of movement on the territory of Serbia. The same people who killed thousands of innocent Serb civilians are now given freedom and immunity. NATO personnel rule the roost in Serbia
NATO personnel are exempt from paying taxes, VAT and/or customs duties. The adoption of the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP), lets NATO soldiers use Serbia's infrastructure, with free transit across the whole territory of Serbia, as well as protection from the law -- being given 'special status' while staying in Serbian territory.
However, although almost two decades have passed since NATO's cruel attack, most Serbs have not forgotten how important freedom is -- which is the main problem for the ruling elite.
In the mainstream media, news about signing the agreement with NATO, was published as small & irrelevant. In a couple of sentences, mainstream journalists wrote about it, as if it was tomorrow's weather forecast, but they couldn't fool people.
Boiling situation hidden by Government
The situation was boiling. A few patriotic parties and war veterans managed to organize a protest -- & expected no more than a thousand people in Belgrade, to show their disagreement with the ruling party's decisions.
On the 20th February, more than 15,000 Serbs, mostly youth, came onto the Belgrade streets to join in with the protesters. Even the police were surprised, quickly trying to reinforce -- fearing nonverbal shows of disagreement.
The mainstream media weren't at all interested in massive protests in the capital city. They just reported, after the protest, that there were only a couple of hundred demonstrators.
Amongst all media, just one, the alternative patriotic website, Srbin info, sent reporters to the vicinity, to cover the whole protest.
It was the only media that had pictures and videos of the massive protests, showing the huge number of protesters.
During the protest, over 2,000 readers per second were following their live streaming of the demonstrations. Each minute, their website was gaining more followers.
Just a couple of minutes after the end of the peaceful protest, huge cyber-attacks began.
The weak website couldn't defend itself from the biggest attacks in its history, & the web- site eventually crashed. Attacks continued for 24 hours, never letting the website repair.
The only possible source of the attacks on the website & freedom of the speech, is the ruling elite. There is no one else who would be able to manage such strong attacks.
The main problem for the alternative, free media in Serbia is that the web providers, most of them belonging to the SBB company, part of the Soros foundation, don't want to reveal who was behind the attacks. However, some opposition forces, also attacked by hackers, discovered that the IP address of the hacker belongs to one of the directors of SBB company.
It is also interesting that 25% of web providers and some mainstream media in Serbia - belong to David Petraeus, former director of the CIA.
Despite their crashed website, Srbin info reporters managed to find way to send the real story & used Facebook to spread the truth. A video showing the masses of people protesting, was viewed by over 1,700,000 Facebook users --- a huge number for Serbia, with its 7 million population.
For 48 hours after the attack, the website was closed.
Thanks to its loyal readers, who appreciate Srbin info's fight for freedom of speech, donations were collected to make a new website, with better protection.
But the problem of having a neutral web provider who will not sabotage the website -- after orders from the Government -- still exists. A much worse problem.... is that the once proud and honorable Serbia, is now under the boots of imperialists.
LEN RE-ELECTED - VICTORY FOR LEFT!
"Serving you, our members, is the greatest privilege of my working life. I'm proud to have stood shoulder- to-shoulder with you in your struggles and proud to have been asked by so many, to continue to fight for you"
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The Corbyn Supporters From Hell - Attila The Stockbroker,15th Oct 2015 at The Blue Boar Hotel, Maldon, Essex, UK
ONE UNION
Two weeks before Brexit, the African Union announced a new single African passport that permits holders to enter any of the 54 AU member states without a visa – an interesting turn in African history which NO-ONE in the West knows or cares about ! What a stunning reflection of how far our mindset and media are, from the 'world community' we say we love.
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ADAM JOHANNES, CO-CONVENOR, PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY
“Most people under 40 have never been a member of a trade union. So unions are irrelevant, right? Wrong. Unions are more relevant than ever before. With in- work poverty, zero hours contracts and precarious employment, trade unions urgently need to make inroads into the private sector where the majority of us work, but a majority are still un-unionised.”
3 recent campaigns show how this might be done -
1. BETTER THAN ZERO
"Better than Zero" is an exciting campaign launched last year by the Scottish TUC to combat employers using zero-hours contracts. It is run by young people for young people to take on the issue of insecure work. Its activists are mostly in their teens or twenties. The campaign calls upon an older generation not to stand by while a generation of young people are forced into insecure work.
It has responded to tip off from employees in workplaces charging staff for training or uniforms, and bars and restaurants where workers tips are taken by the company. It's fought against people routinely expected to work additional late hours at short notice, with little or no thought given to how they'll get home & whether they will be safe.
The campaign uses direct action, stunts and creative protests such as targeting bars and restaurants with 'flash mob choirs', activists and former staff posing as customers, before each stand up in a restaurant to make speeches while other activists leaflet out- side, Halloween funeral marches on exploitative employers, or, memorably, activists clad in chemical-spill clean up garb placing several popular bars & restaurants in 'quarantine', for exploitative work practices. A recent campaign victory saw restaurant chain Las Iguanas end a policy of deducting money from staff tips.
2. SPORTS DIRECT
Unite has waged a dynamic fightback against Sports Direct including pickets of over 30 stores across the UK, occupations, direct action such as the unfurling of a #SportsDirectShame banner by Newcastle United fans at the club owned by Sports Direct boss, Mike Ashley, other banner drops from bridges, shareholder action, and a social media campaign,
Sports Direct is Britain's biggest sportswear company. It made over a billion in profits last year, but the majority of its workers agency staff are on zero hour contracts with no holiday or sick pay, and no guaranteed work from one week to the next. It has been called more 'workhouse' than workplace with intense surveillance and searches of staff, a culture of fear, bullying and intimidation rife.
Unite's campaign had forced the issue of its Victorian working conditions into national media & a company review. Unite demands all staff are re-employed on permanent contracts on a living wage. So far they have won a pay rise for staff and the company is now being investigated by HM Revenue & Customs after the union exposed it for effectively paying under the minimum wage.
3. PIZZA EXPRESS
Unite scored a victory against Pizza Express after exposing and ending the company deducting a proportion of staff's hard earned tips as an 'admin fee', recruiting new members. The campaign involved union activists going into Pizza Express branches to speak to waiting staff, weekly pickets, handing out hundreds of flyers with customers given a ‘scrap the admin fee’ postcard to leave with their cash tips, and finally a 'meal of justice' when protesters went into a restaurant, enjoyed a meal and when the bill came, one person stood up and told customers about the admin fee while others handed out postcards. Customers often respond with spontaneous applause.
We need to think creatively of how to bring politics into the workplace whether collections for refugees in Calais, foodbanks or local homeless, organising delegations from our work to local protests, or even setting up People's Assembly networks with likeminded people we work with.
Cardiff People's Assembly is part of The People's Assembly Against Austerity, a UK anti-cuts network sponsored by eight trade unions. Locally we have worked with Unison defending our city's library service & PCS to organise solidarity with museum workers, we will be supporting Unite Community's day of action against benefit sanctions. With much of our nation's workforce unorganised in their workplace in unions, joining movements like ours can boost people's confidence to stand up to their employers and build workplace organisation.
In the 1980s Thatcher declared war on the unions --- as a prelude to letting the market rip through society --- transforming us into a highly unequal low pay, low skill economy. The assault on the 'social wage' means we now have the highest private rents, highest energy bills, highest rail fares, and most expensive university education in the EU. Now the Trade Union Bill aims to take out a key part of the resistance to extend the cuts, privatisation and outsourcing agenda and shift even more power and wealth from the 99% to the 1%.
Our economy is dominated by low paid jobs. Low pay makes people insecure. A low pay economy and tax avoiding corporations make it hard to invest in public services. Joining a union is one way to fight back.
Profit Is The Only Concern For Railway Privateers 2016 Thursday 29TH DEC
The only way to have a public transport system worthy of the name is to have a fully nationalised railway,says GORDON MARTIN
All things transport have been making the news in Scotland for a number of months and the signs are this isn’t going to change in the dark winter months ahead.
Scotland’s railways have been subjected to an unprecedented level of scrutiny and criticism with opposition politicians, media columnists and some trade union officials calling for Nicola Sturgeon to sack her Transport Minister, Humza Yousaf MSP.
In my view the roots of the public’s dissatisfaction with Scotland’s railways goes back to the Scottish government’s ill-conceived decision to award the ScotRail franchise to a state-owned rail operator.
Unfortunately for passengers and the ScotRail workforce, the state in question was not our own — and the Netherlands now benefits from profits made by its state company, Abellio, out of ScotRail.
A public-sector bid from Scotland was not allowed when the franchise was awarded to Abellio for a 10-year period. With profit the first and only concern of the profiteers at Abellio, a major dispute with Scotland’s biggest rail union RMT was highly predictable.
Abellio’s attack on the role of the guard on our trains brought a summer of discontent as industrial action spread across much of the Scottish rail network.
The Scottish government quickly showed its true colours. The normally very assured and competent First Minister committed a monumental blunder when she disgracefully inferred the strike was only about who pushed a button to open and close train doors.
While the SNP government very often claims to be on the side of working-class communities, it remains very much a political party wedded to capitalism. The First Minister should have taken the trouble to speak to disabled passengers or those travelling on Scotland’s trains who feel vulnerable in any way about how crucial the role of the guard is in making their journey a safer, more relaxing experience.
Thankfully the Scottish government and Abellio ScotRail finally saw sense and a negotiated settlement was reached which was favourable to RMT and which will see safety-trained guards remain in place.
Following on from our successful efforts to Keep The Guard on the Train, RMT has launched a high- profile “Safer Scottish Trains” campaign designed to ensure trains, stations & rail infrastructure in general are properly resourced and managed to ensure the best possible service is delivered.
Everyone, in particular disabled people, should be able to travel on a 21st-century rail network without having to check ahead days in advance to ensure staff will be in place to assist them.
At the same time, Westminster and the European Union have also intervened in a negative way which may have serious repercussions for rail workers and passengers in the years ahead.
Earlier this month Chris Grayling, Transport Secretary in Theresa May’s rotten Tory government, delivered a speech which potentially takes the rail industry back to the complete fragmentation foisted upon the people of Britain by the hapless government of John Major in the 1990s.
Grayling now seeks to reintroduce “competition” into rail infrastructure, maintenance and repairs.
Inevitably this will eventually lead to the complete break-up of Network Rail. The centralised standards implemented by this public-sector organisation will be discarded and profit and loss will become the decisive factor in deciding the standards for maintaining the rail infrastructure. This is a frightening scenario with potentially deadly outcomes and RMT will fight this with everything we have.
The latest plans for railways across the EU, the ultimate bosses’ club, are contained within the Fourth Railway Package which MEPs are voting on. These proposals make it mandatory to put rail passenger services out to competitive tender. With the Scottish government recently beginning to engage with the rail unions and others regarding a public-sector bid for the ScotRail contract, the 4th Railway Package underlines how fragile and fleeting this public-sector bid could ultimately be.
Scotland’s ferry sector also had a fair amount of publicity in the last year or so, with RMT engaged in a high-profile, long-running and ultimately successful campaign to keep CalMac ferries in public ownership.
RMT stands by our assertion that the Clyde and Hebridean ferry service did not have to go out to tender under the Teckal exemption.
Unfortunately, the Scottish government are keen to be seen as good Europeans, despite the negative impact on the Scottish people, and meekly went along with directives from the EU.
The uncertainty for island communities and the stress for the CalMac workforce while their future was unclear, was not high on the government’s agenda.
Unfortunately it looks highly likely that the workforce and the islanders on the Northern Isles are about to be put through the same uncertainty as their counterparts on the west coast.
The government is once again meekly following diktats from Brussels by putting the Northern Isles ferry service out to a competitive tendering process, despite the people of Britain voting to leave the EU, including a sizeable section of the Scottish working class.
RMT has a clear and principled position which is to insist that the Northern Isles contract is brought back into public ownership forthwith.
We demand an immediate end to the exploitation of eastern European seafarers. These workers, employed on a Scottish government contract, are being paid wages at a derisory rate while being denied the protection of a trade union agreement with wages and conditions covered by collective bargaining agreements.
As part of our ongoing Save our Seafarers campaign, we have highlighted this disgraceful fact to the media and the public with our slogan SNP — Ships of Shame.
This is causing the government and, in particular, the Transport Minister a great deal of embarrassment. I make no apologies for this and I sincerely hope the embarrassment will lead to action before too much longer.
It is clear to everyone, with the possible exception of right-wing profiteering zealots, that the only way to have a public transport system worthy of the name is to have a fully nationalised railway, properly resourced, with adequate staffing levels --- together with a publicly owned ferry operator, working exclusively on behalf of ferry users and the Scottish government, & money raised reinvested --- instead of lining the pockets of private shareholders.
Gordon Martin is Scottish regional organiser of the RMT.
(source - Morning Star)
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Tory aid-dumping revelation means the money should be seized and used by Mike Sivier
The worst part of this is, it suggests that people who said the International Aid budget could be used in better ways, were right.
The Times reports that the Tories have been ‘dumping’ billions of pounds in aid into shady World Bank funds, to sit unused indefinitely – in order to "keep up the appearance" of meeting the government’s commitment to donating 0.7% of the UK’s GDP in foreign aid.
According to the Times, at least £9 billion has been transferred like this in the past 5 years. Rather than helping developing countries, the money, which is spread across over 200 different bank accounts, simply sits there – doing nothing except rack up World Bank ‘administration fees’.
UK International Development Secretary Priti Patel’s only qualification for her job appears to be the fact that she had previously wanted to get rid of it and the funding it oversees. This seems to be the standard Tory qualification for any ministerial role that is supposed to help people – Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt infamously wrote a book, before becoming Health Secretary, that called for abolition of the ’60-year-old mistake’ of the NHS.
Clearly, to a Tory, maintaining the appearance of doing something is far more important than actually doing it – especially if it helps you put cash into the bank accounts of your backers and allies and ideally while you get rid of the very thing you’re supposed to be looking after. If you hear Tories say ‘reform’, run for cover – or better yet, get the pitchforks out.
Source: Keeping up appearances: aid-dumping shows Tories care for PR, not people The SKWAWKBOX
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Left Looks To Unite To Protect Its Power Base CHARLEY ALLAN
The Labour right was desperate to see the back of “Red Len,” as the tabloids call him.
But Len won his victory. Now’s the perfect time to join Unite, with full membership costing just £3.50 a week, reduced to 50p for the unemployed.
The AWL and its allies may have won the national committee battle, but they won’t win the OMOV war --- if the movementists get organised.
A new current called Opening Momentum has rallied round the point that anti-OMOVers had denied members their advertised right to “vote in national-level elections.”
And it’s crucial that every member who really believes in the fabled “new kind of politics” turns up to their local branch meetings - if they have them - to halt plans for a parallel party.
This is bigger than Momentum. We need to see much more direct democracy in Labour itself, although there will always be resistance from those who benefit most from the delegate system.
There are literally hundreds of thousands of new Labour members and Momentum’s top priority --- should making sure their voice is heard at next year’s party conference.
The Labour left can’t afford to be crushed again on the conference floor, as happened this year.
While Momentum was dazzling everyone with its World Transformed free festival, right faction Labour First was distributing fliers to let delegates know when and where vital votes were taking place.
Critically, Momentum must:- have slates of candidates ready when local constituency parties select conference delegates in thecoming months.
The new left movement needs to get serious if it wants to win the looming electoral battles within Labour, the trade unions and the grassroots.
Defending, strengthening and expanding this power base at the ballot box, will take back the leadership, and keep the movement fighting fit for the general election.
• Chat to Charley on Twitter: @charleyallan.
(source - Morning Star)
A New Lucas Plan For The Future by David King
The ideas pioneered by the Lucas workers are just as, or more, relevant now than in the 1970s, and there are strong political similarities in the situation.
As in the ’70s, we have an economic crisis caused by unjust economic policies and the failure of successive governments’ industrial strategy.
As usual, this has hit the working class hardest, and anger over this is being channelled into racism against immigrants. Now, the environmental effects of industrial capitalism are far more evident than 40 years ago, already creating wars, militarisation and widespread concern about insecurity.
Finally, introduction of new technologies threatens structural unemployment on a scale considerably greater than the ’70s.
The Tory government’s response to the economic and political crisis, despite continuing to publicly espouse neoliberal principles, looks a lot like a classic Keynesian economic stimulus package.
In the last few months it has made decisions to go ahead with a range of industrial infrastructure megaprojects — Hinkley C, fracking, HS2 and the Heathrow third runway, as well as pressing ahead with spending £200 billion on Trident renewal.
A key element in the case for all these projects is the jobs that they will generate or preserve, although the jobs estimates are bound to be inflated, while the price tag will be massively underestimated.
Compared to the ’70s, far fewer jobs will be created in this way because, due to automation and mechanisation, they are all highly capital rather than labour-intensive.
The Lucas Aerospace workers’ idea of socially useful production suggests a far better way forward.
Even in the early phase of the environmental movement, before most socialists realised the significance of these issues, the Lucas Plan acknowledged that protecting the environment is part of the concept of socially useful production.
With the exception of HS2, all the new projects are environmental anathema, and the damage that project would do to the English countryside and people’s homes and communities, for the sake of saving 30 minutes of executives’ time, makes it emblematic of neoliberalism.
The working-class people who voted for Brexit are demanding jobs and regeneration of their communities, but these industrial vanity projects are not the solution.
Now is the moment to realise the proposals of the Campaign Against Climate Change Trade Union Group (Million Climate Jobs Campaign), which is often seen as a successor to the Lucas Plan.
We should be investing in renewable energy, home insulation, public transport etc as part of the international trade union initiative of Just Transition, ie transition to a low-carbon economy with job protection for workers in industries that need to be phased out.
Imagine what could be achieved in regional economic renewal and environmental benefits with the Trident billions.
But exactly how that money should be spent should not be decided by economic planners alone.
One of the great strengths of the Lucas Plan was that it came from the bottom up, from workers, not managers.
Recognising that they could not, by themselves, define what people need, the Lucas workers began to work with various regional communities to develop “popular planning for social need.”
In London, the Greater London Council created technology development networks that involved users, for example disabled people, in technology design.
These traditions of bottom-up local planning have been continued by various citizens’ local planning initiatives, such as Just Space in London, and would be vital to a democratic solution to the crises.
The current economic and environmental crises are symptoms of a deeper crisis in the industrial capitalist mode of production, and they demand a fundamental rethink of how we produce the basic things that people need for a decent life.
One of the less well-remembered, but crucial aspects of the Lucas Plan was the workers’ struggle against the automation and deskilling of their work with computer-controlled machinery, a struggle shared with trade unionists around the world in that period.
As Phil Asquith of the Lucas Combine puts it, “Harold Wilson’s ‘white heat of the technological revolution’ was burning up workers’ jobs.’
The continuation of this trend over the last 40 years is a major source of the jobless recoveries and income polarisation that are creating the “squeezed middle” of angry, Daily Mail- reading, Brexit voters.
Forecasts suggest that digital technology will eliminate half the jobs in the economy over the next 20 years, but its track record shows that it creates far fewer new jobs to replace them.
One response to this that has become popular on the left is the belief that automation will usher in a post- capitalist society, if we can only feed those useless human workers with basic income.
This is a complex argument, but one thing for sure is that this was not the Lucas workers’ philosophy.
Instead of: “Demand Full Automation, Demand Universal Basic Income, Demand the Future,” they would have reminded us that the romance of high-technology leads to what historian of technology David Noble aptly called: “Progress without people.”
The Lucas workers’ slogan would likely have been: “Demand Democratic Control of Technology, Demand Socially Useful Production, Demand Equality and Sustainability.”
They were very clear that the idea of socially useful production is also about how things are produced.
There is no point in socially useful products if they are made in a way that alienates and deskills the workers who produce them.
They went on to design “human-centred technologies,” in which the point was to use and develop workers’ skills, rather than design them out of the production process.
A skills and people-based, more labour-intensive approach is, in the era of Brexit and environmental crisis, a much better way to create a socially just, sustainable economy than old-fashioned, capital- intensive high-tech mega projects. This is the agenda we will be discussing in Birmingham today.
(source - the Morning Star)
Construction Workers Can’t Be Expected To Work Into Their Sixties by Brian Rye (source - The Star)
British governments seem to think one of two things about construction workers: they're either superhuman, or they don’t give a toss about them. That would be the logical conclusion, given the raise in the pension age, to 68.
With the state pension age due to rise to 67 by 2026 and 68 by 2044, our political elites seem to believe that we are breeding a race of human beings with quite exceptional physical capabilities.
While professional sportspeople are pretty much done by their mid-thirties, with their strength, speed and stamina leeching away by the day, the British construction worker - if you believe our politicians - lives in a world that defies conventional science.
Despite the early starts, the exposure to the elements, the heavy lifting, the long hours, the poor diet & susceptibility to minor injury, these lions of the labour force are all going to get their telegram from the king - because the stats say we’re all living longer.
Sadly, if you have a shred of common sense you will immediately know this is not true.
Construction workers are the same as any other human being. Like professional sportspeople, they can feel their physical abilities start to wane from their mid-thirties.
The only difference being: construction workers have to stay in the game. & not only that, given the increase in the pensionable age, the game just went into extra time.
Empathy is a wonderful characteristic for a human being to possess because it creates understanding and caring for others.
So we have to ask ourselves, as our besuited, overweight politicians sit back in their comfy chairs before skipping off to their subsidised three-course meal in the House of Commons - with a glass of wine or two — how much empathy are they feeling with their compatriots in construction?
Can they imagine the freezing mornings, the hours of standing up, the repetitive physical work or the greasy chips for lunch? It would seem not.
Recent research carried out by the TUC, in a report called Postponing the Pension, shows that a significant proportion of the population won’t reach the pensionable age of 68 in any fit state to enjoy their retirement.
The results show that half a million workers within five years of the state pension have had to leave work for medical reasons, and that nearly half of 60 to 64-year-olds stopped working before their official retirement age.
This is why Ucatt is currently trying to get the Labour Party to support policies that would mean a future Labour government would introduce a flexible pension age for physically demanding professions.
Construction work is hugely physically demanding because it involves prolonged standing, highly repetitive work, heavy lifting, working with the hands lifted to shoulder height or higher, and working with the back twisted or bent forward. It can lead to musculoskeletal disorder, cardiovascular disease and long-term sickness absence.
These work conditions and their effects need to be factored into the calculation of a pensionable age. It is only fair.
At 60, most politicians are on a few company boards, are picking up consultancies, maybe writing a book and reaping the benefits of a lifetime’s work.
The current presidential candidates in the US are 68 (Hillary Clinton) and 70 (Donald Trump) - beneficiaries of a lifetime of comfort, good food, little or no physical exertion and excellent healthcare on demand.
These individuals see no reason to retire - they’re feeling fine. Construction workers often aren’t feeling fine.
We all know that one in four people in Britain will now live to 100 — but what about the other three? At what age will they be checking out? And what jobs are they doing?
According to figures from the government’s own Office for National Statistics, doctors and accountants are outliving builders and cleaners, by as much as eight years.
Men in professional occupations can expect to live to 80, almost eight years longer than those in unskilled jobs, whose life expectancy is 72.7. So people are not all the same - shock, horror! Comparing the accountant to the construction worker is comparing apples with oranges - and yet our governments conveniently ignore this.
Our ageing population and the fears surrounding the viability of the state pension in the future has caused the political class to legislate in a heavy- handed, insensitive and unsophisticated way.
The phrase “we’ve all got to work longer” is bandied about by those sitting comfortably behind a desk. For those leading a more active life, this phrase is just a plain, old-fashioned threat.
To quote ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn: “Living longer doesn’t mean we are able to work longer in physically demanding jobs like that of the firefighter, police officer or paramedic. And it’s not just in the emergency services. Construction workers, care workers and prison officers cannot be expected to work into their sixties. We need a flexible pension age that allows people to work for as long as they want to.”
Ucatt’s campaign plainly states “68 is too late.” It’s a campaign that needs to be fought to a victory - for the sake of thousands of British workers. We need to present our case, find broad support and build empathy within the country. And we have to find acceptance that it may cost us all a little bit more while we’re of working age.
Otherwise we will all be using another well- known phrase: “flogging a dead horse.”
We’ll leave the last words to Mr Corbyn: “If we want dignity for all in old age, then it has to be paid for.”
Brian Rye is acting general secretary of Ucatt.
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Britain’s workers feel stressed and insecure (originally in the Morning Star) by Carolyn Jones
The UK's 31 million workers are among the most insecure, stressed and unhappiest in Europe.
No wonder! According to the latest report by the Institute of Employment Rights (IER), the evidence is damning.
On average, UK workers work more hours per week, more days per year, more years before retirement -- after which, they receive lower levels of pension -- than most of their European counterparts.
In comparison to other European workers they generally receive less education and training, and (because of lack of employer investment) their productivity is lower.
They get fewer paid holidays than almost all European comparators and their pay is so low that a great proportion of them are in poverty --- with the state subsidising employers’ low wages.
And it doesn’t end there. The UK has a high proportion of its workforce in so-called “self- employment,” agency work, temporary work, and/or on zero-hours contracts.
It has more part-time workers who want full- time jobs, than other European countries.
UK workers have less entitlement to redundancy pay, sick pay, and maternity pay, than most European workers.
Workers’ rights to remedies for unfair dismissal and discrimination are set low and have been made practically unenforceable by the imposition of high access fees.
In the UK, unlike most European countries, there is no ministry of labour, no labour inspectorate and a negligible complement of health and safety inspectors.
All this in the fifth richest nation in the world. It is obscene. So what’s to be done?
An excellent starting point is the establishment of Jeremy Corbyn’s Workplace 2020 initiative. Launched in May 2016, the aim of the project is to start a national conversation on what work should be like in 2020.
Under the chairmanship of Ian Lavery, shadow trade union minister, the Labour Party wants to hear the good, the bad and the ugly stories about working life in Britain.
On a recently launched website people can submit their comments, complaints and suggestions on a range of workplace issues.
So whether it’s job security, pay and pensions, training and apprenticeships, diversity and equality, trade unions or health and safety that raises your passion, there’s scope to feed into the policy agenda.
Once again the Labour leadership team is turning out to the country for ideas rather than assuming it knows best in the corridors of power.
Labour is already committed to raising the minimum wage, banning zero-hours contracts, ensuring workers are given access to justice, and giving temporary workers the same rights as permanent staff. But it recognises that more needs to be done -- not just to secure fairness at work but to rebuild the UK's economy and industry.
So, at the request of Jeremy Corbyn and Ian Lavery, the IER drafted a contribution to the review, using 15 of its academic and legal experts. At the heart of our proposals is the need to ensure the voice of the UK’s 31 million workers is heard & respected -- in government (via a ministry of labour), in the economy (via a national economic forum) and in industry (via sectoral employment commissions).
The manifesto offers 25 major policy recommendations for consideration.
It proposes changing the way in which working conditions are regulated. It moves responsibility for workplace regulation from legislation to collective bargaining.
It calls for the repeal of the Trade Union Act 2016, the removal of tribunal fees and the introduction of fundamental & enforceable rights for workers, enforceable in a labour court with the assistance of labour inspectors.
The Thatcher concept of individual rights for individual workers has to go. It does little for workers, it’s costly to enforce and it fails to deliver fairness at work.
IER’s manifesto offers a system based on the collective voice of workers, negotiating collectively agreed standards & delivering collectively enforced fairness at work.
A new framework of labour law should be built on the following 10 points:
A ministry of labour
A national economic forum
Sectoral employment commissions
Sectoral collective agreements and wages councils’ orders
Workplace bargaining
A strengthened framework of statutory employment rights
Labour courts and labour inspectors
Employment tribunals
Stronger support for freedom of association and collective rights
The right to strike
Carolyn Jones is director of the Institue of Employment Rights
A manifesto for labour law: Towards a comprehensive revision of workers’ rights --- is available from IER. Go to www.ier.org.uk for more information.
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Why Labour is putting energy reform at the heart of its green agenda Jeremy Corbyn
No issue better connects the environment to people’s lives than energy. To deliver clean, affordable electricity,we need to change our undemocratic system of supply.
We are on course for a climate catastrophe. 2016 is set to be the hottest year on record. Unless the Paris agreement’s target of limiting the rise in temperatures by 1.5C is met, heatwaves like that in 2003, which killed tens of thousands of people in Europe, will become the norm. And that's before considering rising sea levels and desertification, that will sink cities, and kill and displace millions, or the fact that the Earth has already lost half its wildlife, in the past 40 years.
The task for politicians is to propose real solutions to the single most important issue facing humanity. Too often, the environment is considered a matter for scientists, enthusiasts & activists. To increase public understanding and energise the political debate, we need more than facts – we need a programme that resonates with people’s every- day experiences, offering not just warnings, but opportunities and improvement.
No issue better connects the environment to people’s lives than energy. In Britain today, 7 million households struggle to pay their bills because of spiralling costs, while the big six energy companies have seen their profits rise by more than tenfold since 2007. The energy market is not just expensive, inefficient and polluting – it is, above all, undemocratic.
In order to deliver clean, affordable heating and electricity we need to change the whole system of energy supply. When energy is driven by the needs of people, it will be greener – because saving the planet is in the interests of everyone.
That is why I am today announcing a bold new set of policies which will pioneer a democratic, community- led system of energy supply. Over the course of the next parliament, we will use public investment and legislation to promote the creation of over 200 local energy companies, giving towns, cities & localities the powers they need to drive a clean, locally accountable energy system with public, not-for-profit companies.
At the heart of this policy will be a new generation of community energy co-operatives. We will create 1,000 of these co-operatives with the support of a network of regional development banks, and legislate to give them the right to sell energy directly to the communities they serve.
At the same time as building a new publicly run, locally accountable energy system, we will invest in the high quality homes & insulation needed to make Britain environmentally sustainable. We will create a National Home Insulation programme to insulate at least 4m homes to energy efficiency standard B or C. In the private rented sector, we will set compulsory standards at the same level & end the misery of cold rented accommodation. This would save millions of people money on their bills as well as saving energy that is currently wasted on poorly insulated homes.
In order to have any hope of keeping the rise in temperature to 2C – let alone meeting our Paris agreement target of 1.5C – we need to keep 80% of fossil fuels in the ground. This can and must be done. Scotland is already on course to generate 100% of its electricity by renewables, & Britain has an ample supply of wind & water. In government, I'll commit to generating 65% of Britain’s electricity from these sources by 2030.
All of these measures will create secure, skilled employment for hundreds of thousands of people. As part of our transition to a low-carbon economy, we estimate that we will create 316,000 jobs in wind, solar and wave power. We'll use a £500bn national investment programme, with a National Investment Bank and a network of regional development banks, to ensure that these jobs and opportunities are created in places where they are most needed – in coastal towns and areas with high unemployment.
Too often, environmental catastrophe is explained in the same terms as an asteroid hitting the earth. But the problems and the solutions are political – they are about the prioritisation of profit over the needs of people and, at the heart of it all, a lack of democracy in how decisions are made. By democratising our energy supply, and giving people power over their own destinies, we can rebuild and transform Britain so that no one and no community, is left behind.
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Together --- Stronger!
Change, when it comes, will not come from Westminster. The campaign to save our NHS must become a visible reality on every high street and a priority for Labour members.
The NHS is at breaking point, and as Keep Our NHS Public secretary John Lister says: “by 2020 it will all be over.”
To reverse the damage of four more years of A&E closures, outsourced or pared-down services and reduced access, could verge on the impossible.
MPs who obsess over the need to attract Tory voters may find that the champions who saved a local A&E win more hearts and minds than a lorryload of anti-immigration mugs ever could.
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HELP JOHN DUNN
John Dunn, ex-miner and a Labour Party member for 45 years, was blocked from voting for Corbyn, because he challenged Owen Smith for exploiting the legacy of Orgreave for electoral purposes.
He has been told he is suspended from the Labour Party.
John says: "45 years continuous membership and they couldn't even address me by my name"
It looks like the NEC are creating their very own blacklist.
Labour grew hugely under Corbyn and the ''guess'' is --- most of new members were Corbyn supporters.
A DREAM COME TRUE
Support for Jeremy Corbyn from Tyrone O’Sullivan, a fourth-generation south Wales miner, who led a workers’ buy-out of Tower Colliery, to save it from closure.
"I’ve been close to Jeremy since the miners’ strike. Knowing the man, knowing his abilities and his education, it was a dream come true for me when he became leader. His ideas and values are more necessary, here in south Wales, than probably anywhere else in the country. He wanted victory for Labour, but only under our terms - for a change."
O’Sullivan, a lifelong Labour member, says Jeremy is the only true socialist we have had as leader --- for 20 or 30 years.
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PEOPLE DESERVE RESPECT
Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership opponent flaunted his contempt for democracy by backing a second referendum on UK membership of the EU.
And MPs pressured Jeremy Corbyn to resign, by constant smears, media lies and attacks on Labour's membership !!!
No wonder the Unite policy conference has overwhelmingly backed mandatory reselection of MPs - to ensure genuine democratic accountability in the party.
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Unite pushes for reselection of MPs by Conrad Landin
Candidates ‘should reflect members’ views’
Labour's largest affiliate is now behind the push for mandatory reselection of MPs, as Jeremy Corbyn critics have “destabilised” the party, to ditch anti-austerity policies.
Delegates at general union Unite’s conference are resolved to support the approach, in order “to ensure democratic accountability, and the rights of party members to select candidates that reflect their views.”
Currently, sitting MPs are only subject to a “trigger ballot” -- where they automatically become the candidate -- unless a super- majority of branches in the constituency support a new selection.
London and eastern region's delegate, Kevin Parslow: “The current trigger mechanism is difficult, & weighted in favour of the incumbent.
“We put ourselves up as reps and branch officers for election regularly.
“I don’t think it’s unreasonable for MPs to put themselves up for re-selection. They should be accountable to us, and not to Murdoch’s press: they're there because they have the Labour Party name on the ballot paper.”
Mike Hedges, another London delegate: “Four weeks ago I would have spoken against this motion--- but after the treachery of 172 MPs --- we have no option.”
The union’s leaders are also mandated to “support moves to bring more democracy into policy-making -- by returning powers to the party conference.”
A Unite spokesperson:
“This vote simply reflects the immense frustration that our members feel. They look at the conduct of some within the party, the challenge to the elected leader, and they feel angered.
“They want Labour fighting the Tories, not among themselves.”
KEEP FIGHTING FOR MORE DEMOCRACY!
Momentum and Labour are engaged in a huge consultation to expand democracy in Labour...
WHY NOT PASTE THE LINK BELOW AND JOIN THE DISCUSSION?
http://www.peoplesmomentum.com/democracy-review
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If you haven't done so already, join Labour, join Momentum, and let's rebuild #BuildOurMovement.
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GMB Wins Lidl Recognition by Peter Lazenby Ruling affects hundreds of warehouse staff
The Star - General union GMB has won a landmark legal ruling giving hundreds of warehouse workers at giant cut-price supermarket chain Lidl the right to be represented by the union.
The German-owned chain opposes union recognition and resisted the union’s claim.
But the Central Arbitration Committee, whose decisions are legally binding, supported the GMB case, and gave the union full rights to represent and negotiate on behalf of its 223 members among warehouse workers at Bridgend, south Wales.
GMB now presses ahead with its campaign for recognition at 8 more Lidl warehouses across England and Scotland.
National secretary Justin Bowden says: “Lidl’s attempts at union-busting were quite properly thrown out by the judge --- in a massive victory for rights at work.
“[Wednesday’s] ruling opens the gates to not only improving employees’ pay & terms and conditions at the Bridgend site, but is also a major victory for the GMB’s campaign for a trade union voice at the workplace.
“The suggestion that Lidl’s workers don't need the option of a trade union to stick up for them and fight for their interests is baloney, pure and simple.
“As a result of today’s ruling, employees will get the chance to decide for them- selves, if the company’s own ‘personal personnel hotline’ is any match for an independent union taking their side & defending their interests in the workplace.”
GMB Wales and south-west regional secretary John Phillips adds: “Regrettably, Lidl continues to show both hostility towards GMB & shameful disregard for the wishes of its own workforce, with expensive challenges against fair and objective decisions made by independent third-party organisations.”
Lidl is also resisting attempts by shop workers’ union Usdaw to recruit and represent staff in its supermarkets.
An Usdaw spokesperson said: “Lidl will not even let our representatives into stores, to talk to staff.”
Lidl has 637 stores & 9 regional distribution centres --- employing over 18,000 staff. Its ambitions to expand in Britain, could see it more than double in size --- with plans for 1,500 stores & 2 more distribution centres.
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Tax offices’ own cleaners don’t get minimum wage
Cleaners at 6 government offices on Mersey- side walked out over their employer’s failure to pay them the legal minimum wage.
The staff began the two-day strike, because they have not received that £7.20-an-hour rate the government introduced on April 1.
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Wales: 50,000 days lost due to teacher stress
The number of teachers off sick due to stress in Wales has soared by thousands in just one year, new research shows.
Stress-related illness caused the 51,795 sick days: an increase of 2,568 on 2014, freedom of information figures revealed.
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Unions stood by Corbyn & McDonnell
The entire labour movement could have been concentrating all of our efforts - on bringing down this mean government.
Instead, 172 Labour MPs launched an attempted coup on Corbyn. If it's true that Angela Smith MP described the 10,000 activists, including general secretaries of affiliated trade unions, who were at a recent pro-Corbyn rally, as “dogs,” --- then serious questions need to be asked about the relationship between the PLP and the trade union movement.
Every trade union in Britain has regular elections for shop stewards, branch secretaries, and their general secretary.
It's time those who fund the Labour Party demanded the same level of democracy for sitting MPs.
Anything less than a mandatory reselection of MPs before every parliament is now untenable.
Let’s get this straight: none of these MPs backed Corbyn for leader, most of them abstained in the Welfare Reform Bill, many of them voted for the Iraq war, & to this day, hero-worship Tony Blair.
The 172 Labour MPs aren't just trying to change the Labour leader -- they are plotting to drag the movement back to a Blairite view of politics.
The vote of no confidence wasn't just an attempt to oust Corbyn --- it was a declaration of war on the entire organised left.
The gloves are off and there’s no going back. Everyone will need to decide: which side are you on? I stand with Corbyn and McDonnell.
Dave Smith is co-author, with Phil Chamberlain, of Blacklisted: The Secret War between Big Business and Trade Unionists, (New Internationalist Publications).
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RMT: We Must Fight Assault On Our Rights Union ‘disappointed’ with lack of action from TUC
Unions should move to take “generalised” strike action: with or without a go-ahead from the TUC, RMT activists insisted.
The union was meeting in Cardiff that week --- but you wouldn't know it, if you'd read the Welsh press!
Delegates at the transport union’s annual general meeting in Cardiff expressed disappointment that fiery rhetoric about defeating new anti-strike laws was not followed up with action.
The union unanimously passed a motion expressing concern at the TUC’s “lack of campaigning” on the issue and called for a “high-profile campaign.”
Leeds delegate Trevor Howard said: “Personally, my own view is that the TUC is a waste of space and it needs to be reorganised.”
The Trade Union Act, which received Royal Assent last month, imposes arbitrary thresholds on strike ballots & other curbs on labour movement activity.
RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: “It’s fundamentally undemocratic when you put these thresholds in.”
He said unions must respond to the law by ramping up their organising. “Whatever we do, we’ve got to make sure we get our members’ support,” he said.
And he praised Jeremy Corbyn’s Workplace 2020 agenda, which aims to introduce new labour rights.
“What we need to be doing is turning the tables,” he added: “We’ve got to get an alternative to this legislation --- to get us positive rights.”
Cash blasts ‘self-indulgent MPs’ for sabotaging left’s moment
“Self-indulgent” Labour MPs have squandered the left’s best moment to go on the offensive, RMT's general secretary, Mick Cash, stressed.
He used his address to the transport union’s annual general meeting to warn of “massive fights ahead” amid “political and economic turmoil.”
He said the divisions in the Tory Party and shockwaves in the world of capital should have been an opportunity for the left to get its message across. But he said this had been sabotaged by the frontbenchers resigning and calling for Jeremy Corbyn’s head.
He fumed: “What have they done? Self-indulgence. They’ve created division, they created a lack of leadership of progressive forces.
“They’ve created a situation where, if we’re not careful, we’ll have a Tory government ------ and worse, a Tory government supported by Ukip.
“We need to seize the opportunity to put forward an agenda to fight against austerity, against cuts and for workers’ rights. But that won’t happen if our politicians in London are playing the game they’re playing.
“Ordinary working people are sick of the political class and what they’re doing --- and yet they’re doing it again.”
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Putschist MPs ‘Let The Tories Off The Hook’ Unions rally round previous Labour leader
Union reps on Labour’s ruling executive signed a defiant statement to show that Mr Corbyn still has institutional support.
The leader of Labour’s most recent affiliate Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack pointed his hoses at the quitters, saying their action was “co-ordinated to cause maximum damage” to Mr Corbyn.
“It is bizarre that some of the MPs making the loudest criticism of Jeremy Corbyn over the referendum -- completely failed to convince the electorate in their own constituencies,” he said.
“After the referendum, Labour should be setting out policies to defend jobs, public services & wages, as an exit from the EU is negotiated. Instead, some Labour MPs are playing irresponsible & silly games, from their Westminster bubble.”
Unite south-east secretary Jenny Formby, one of the executive members behind the statement in support of Mr Corbyn, said it was “nonsense” to blame him for the result. “Now, more than ever, is a time for loyalty and unity,” she stormed.
Communication Workers’ Union leader Dave Ward fired off a missive, stating Mr Corbyn “has our full support” as leader.
“Jeremy Corbyn is, and remains, the catalyst for change in the Labour Party and the country,” he said. “Those who seek to oust him, represent the politics that forgot ordinary people.”
And food union BFAWU turned up the heat. They said plotters would “only serve to let the Conservative government off the hook for the damage they've heaped upon our communities & the crisis they've caused in pursuit of power.”
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WHERE IS MOST UK YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT?
WALES!
(WHERE IN WALES? GUESS !!!)
Youth unemployment rates in some parts of Britain, such as the North East, have reached the highest recorded level ever, recent data gathered by the GMB union shows.
The GMB report says unemployment rates among people aged between 18-25 have hit record levels.
Wales is top of the unemployment list, with almost 23,000 claimants. The GMT reveals that some parts of Wales have a jobless rate of 37%.
Paul Kenny, GMB general secretary:
"In the UK there are nearly 400,000 young workers aged 18-24 claiming jobseeker's allowance. When you add to that number the rest of the young people not in jobs, but seeking work, the real number is more than double that figure.”
The number of young UK job seekers is really almost one million;- which makes this young generation the real victims of the current recession in Britain.
Kenny again: “The Government is in denial that it is deliberately creating unemployment.”
This is while reports say almost 150,000 jobs are under threat across the country.
What Wales needs is AN ECONOMY
ONE THAT WILL LAST
"Regional aid" - artificially importing factories that owe no allegiance to Wales - has failed.
Innovation means NEW ! New thinking.
Stop moaning about the past. Start building an economy NOW, for our youngsters.
Or else!!!
New means old, if you want to build a genuine economy. From the ground up, means exactly that!
Agriculture, producing smart new food and drinks. But based on our strengths.
All the land we need is here, and if we look up, 80 percent of Wales' "valley" land is up in the air, like Penrhys!
And it's almost unused. Imagine! All that land from the Rhondda over to Aberdare and beyond.
I'm sure people with vision can see orchards and new products... new ways of working, etc.
All it requires is a WILLINGNESS TO CHANGE.
ALL TOGETHER NOW FOR PEACE
The UK's TUC is calling on the UK government to end its meddling policies in the Middle East and North Africa. “The “war on terror” is still continuing and has failed, after ten years, to bring the promised peace and stability to either the Middle East or the wider world,” the motion says...
UK FOLLOWING US DOWN THE DRAIN
Last year’s table of 10 top EU economies - assessing income, prices, working culture & public spending, put the UK in last place.
The UK now has the 4th-highest retirement age of any country averaging 63.1 years - and this,thanks to the Tories AND a supine work-force, is set to keep rising higher and higher.
Average net household income after tax, (and remember, this "average" includes the stinking rich) is £37,172 a year, but even after ignoring the ridiculously high "average", this is now much lower than the average amount earned in Ireland, the Netherlands & Denmark, where there are less of the obscenely rich, to distort the figures.
In Wales, we know that the "average" worker earns far less than this: (£15,000 after tax)
Life for most in the UK is set to get even worse - if people don't fight back - as public services are to be cut more, after the next Spending Review ..and will lead to budget cuts of up to 40% in many public service departments.
France and Spain again top the quality of life index, as workers there have more paid holidays, earlier retirement, lower prices, longer life expectancy and, just to rub it in... better weather.
There are no separate figures for Wales.... why?
Could it be that knowing... might lead to discontent or is it because Welsh workers, with their vibrant economy, as they stop mindlessly following London... and build their new economy, are now so well off, that the English might get jealous? Yeah, right!
The lesson is obvious. Strong unions with gutsy membership abound on the continent, while UK residents sink apathetically down & down & down.
As Tony Blair said: we British are "special".
We think life gets better for us if we let the bankers of London exploit the rest of the world, and our non-working workforce sinks into apathy and selfishness...
Makes you proud, doesn't it! Does it?
WORKERS ACROSS EUROPE UNITE & FIGHT TO STOP CUTS PEACE - NOT WAR AND LOOTING !
Workers from across Europe took part in a major demonstration in Brussels --- to demand that austerity measures be dropped in favour of an end to wars & for peaceful reconstruction.
Europeans took to the streets of Brussels to demonstrate against wage & pension cuts and diminishing job opportunities.
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), one of the EU's leading unions, says that about 100,000 people from 30 countries took part, and police estimates say 20,000.
“Cutting in a recession's crazy and we must fight it,” AFP quotes the ETUC's general secretary, a prominent UK union leader.
Marches also took place in Portugal, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Serbia, Romania, Poland, Ireland and France.
The rallies coincided with a general strike in Spain where the government froze pensions and cut the salaries of government workers.
“This is the worst economic crisis in the post- war history of Western Europe,” the eTUC leader adds.
"We call for a rethink and a change - in Spain and in Europe. We are mobilizing, and they will have to listen to us."
The union says European workers could be the main victims of a financial crisis set off by bankers and traders.
Many European governments have imposed reductions in wages, pensions & employment - to deal with the escalating economic issues.
The OECD has released its long awaited Action Plan to curb "base erosion and profit shifting" (BEPS) by large multinational enterprises.
"The OECD Action Plan has the ambition to effectively curb tax evasion by large multinational enterprises – but it is a plan, and it needs effective commitments by governments and effective implementation,” says ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow.
The Action plan consists of 15 measures to strengthen corporate income tax rules and prevent tax avoidance through manipulating intra-group transfer pricing between subsidiaries, and the use of empty shell companies in low tax jurisdictions.
Tax challenges created by globalised production and service systems, the digital economy and increasing importance of "intangibles" – r & d, and intellectual property – feature prominently in the OECD Action plan.
