"We are currently working on directly purchasing gas from
Gazprom without the various offshore companies that the
Chisinau authorities are currently buying gas from and
from which we now get five to six times more
expensive to the consumer," she told
RIA Novosti.
Earlier, the head of the autonomous region reported on
the discussion with the Russian leadership of direct
gas supplies to Gagauzia... at reduced prices.
____________________________________________
Gagauzia.. reveals action plan
for Chisinau troops entering
the region
April 10th, 4:04am
(Lenta.ru)
The head of Gagauzia, Eugenia Gutsul, told what actions
the region will take if Moldova reacts to the declaration
of independence of the Gagauz autonomy by sending
troops. Her words are quoted by RIA Novosti.
Gutsul expressed hope that Chisinau will not resort to sending troops to the region. Otherwise, Gagauzia will turn to Russia... for help.
"I hope for the common sense of our authorities. But if it comes to this, we will apply to all countries --- of course --- including the Russian Federation," she said.
The politician added that the Gagauz Autonomous Region intends to remain part of Moldova, but will take measures.. if the country wants to unite with Romania.
Earlier, Gutsul stated that Moldovans do not want to join the EU. In her opinion, Moldova does not need any military blocs --- including NATO.
_________________________________________________
Gutsul: Gagauzia will take measures
in case of Moldova's decision to
unite with Romania
April 10th, 3:34am
(RT.ru)
Gagauzia will take measures if the authorities
decide to unite with Romania, said the head
of the region, Eugenia Gutsul.
"If the Republic of Moldova moves towards rapprochement
with Romania, of course, we will take some measures,
because we want to be, live ---- in an independent
Republic of Moldova," she told RIA Novosti.
As noted in the Russian Foreign Ministry, Moscow
sees attempts by the Moldovan authorities to
forcibly "Romanize" Moldovan society.
Romanian Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolaku, said
that he believes in unification with Moldova.
Moldovan Socialist Party calls for
developing strategic partnership
with Russia
March 27th, 8:05am
(TASS)
The Socialist Party of Moldova supports the development
of relations of strategic partnership with Russia, the
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
and some other Eastern countries.
"Along with continuing the process of European
integration, Moldova should benefit from and
participate in other global processes, such
as the Belt and Road Initiative, develop
relations with the CIS economic space
and strategic partnership relations
with such countries as Russia, the
CIS, China and Turkey," a party
representative said at
a briefing.
"Moldovan citizens want good relations with both
the West and the East. The authorities should
promote a sovereign foreign policy," she pointed out.
Moldova's parliament and government are now
controlled by the pro-European Party of Action
& Solidarity, which has set a course towards
severing ties with Russia and the CIS.
Scholz tried to ban Putin
from referring to Kant
April 23rd, 12:07pm
(Moscow24.ru)
Vladimir Putin has no right to quote the German
philosopher Immanuel Kant. This was stated
by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz,
reports Welt.
Speaking at the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences
at a solemn ceremony in honour of the philosopher's
300th birthday, the Chancellor noted that the
Russian president has no reason to refer
to Kant.
According to Scholz, the Russian authorities are trying "to
appropriate Kant and his works at any cost," although
the German thinker's ideas about the world do not
correspond to the Russian position on Ukraine.
The day before, on Kant's birthday, Putin greeted the
participants and guests of the International Kantian
Congress "The World Concept of Philosophy",
noting that this forum shows an undying
interest in the thinker's personality
and philosophical works.
Earlier, Kaliningrad Region Governor Anton Alikhanov said that German philosopher Immanuel Kant is involved in the world's chaos and the conflict in Ukraine.
According to Alikhanov, Kant, in his philosophy, cut off the
German will, from the highest values. This has led to the
creation of a socio-cultural situation in which Western
countries violate all agreements.
____________________________________
SDP Deputy ''recognizes''
Germany's insufficient
desire for peace
in Ukraine
April 23rd, 11:57am
(Izvestia.ru)
Berlin needs to shift its focus from supporting Kiev with
weapons to trying to resolve the conflict in Ukraine
peacefully. This was announced on Tuesday,
April 23, by the deputy of the Bundestag
from the Social Democratic Party of
Germany (SPD) Michael Muller.
"What I often miss is the promotion of diplomatic solutions,
the organization of conferences on disarmament and
peace, attempts to find partners ------ at least, for a
ceasefire," he said in a podcast published by Zeit.
The SPD representative noted that supporting Ukraine is
the right decision, but he criticized attempts to focus on
arms supplies "to create the impression that this could
solve problems." According to Mueller, weapons and
equipment have become increasingly important
in the country's foreign policy.
Earlier, on April 18, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called
on NATO countries to supply Patriot air defense systems
to Ukraine. He stressed that air defense systems are
of paramount importance for Kiev at the moment.
At the same time, on April 10, representatives of German
right-wing and democratic parties wrote an open letter
to the Chancellor --- demanding to stop supplying
weapons to Ukraine. The deputies stressed:
that the supply of weapons does not solve
conflicts and is morally unacceptable,
especially given German history.
Earlier, on March 28, Germany announced the transfer of
a large package of military assistance to Ukraine. It is
noted that the tranche included ammunition for
Leopard 2 A6 tanks, 18 thousand 155 mm
shells, 24 thousand 40 mm shells, six
Wisent 1 mine clearing vehicles,
two Beaver bridge-laying
machines with spare
parts, as well as
9 mine trawls.
Western countries have stepped up military and financial
support for Kiev.. against the backdrop of the Russian
special operation to protect the Donbass, which was
announced by Russian President, Vladimir Putin, on
February 24, 2022, after the situation in the region
worsened due to shelling by the Ukrainian military.
However, in recent years, the West has increasingly
voiced statements about the need to reduce
support for Ukraine.
____________________________________________
Bild: Germany slows down delivery of
heavy armoured personnel carriers
to Kiev April 22nd, 2024
(BILD The original
translated by InoTV)
The German tabloid Bild, citing secret documents, reports
that Germany is -- disrupting the supply of 400 MRAP-type
armoured personnel carriers to Kiev. We are talking
about the products of the company Flensburger
Fahrzeugbau GmbH, the transaction is
financed from the German budget.
It was assumed that armoured vehicles worth €315 million
were to be delivered in small batches over several years
starting in January 2024. But nothing came of this
ambitious plan: now it is announced that the
first cars can be shipped only in June,
writes Bild.
One of the main reasons for the delay, the tabloid calls
the fact that armoured vehicles, originally converted
from US trucks, still do not have the necessary
mine protection certificates.
A ministry insider confirmed to the newspaper that NO
successful explosives tests were conducted until mid
-April to obtain the necessary certificates. The
promised FFG mine protection of vehicles
has not yet been proven.
InoTV materials contain estimates exclusively
from foreign media and do not reflect
RT's position
_______________________________________
German authorities have named the
volume of Russian frozen assets
in the country
April 15th, 5:17pm
(Izvestia.ru)
To date, Russian assets worth about €3.9 billion have
been frozen in Germany. This was announced on
April 15 by the German Ministry of Finance.
The ministry clarified that this includes the assets of
individuals and legal entities included in the EU
sanctions list. We are talking about their cash,
corporate investments and yachts. The
Ministry of Finance clarified that this
includes the assets of the Central
Bank of Russia.
At the same time, the ministry added that the amount may
fluctuate, since it depends, among other things, on the
exclusion of individuals from the sanctions list.
Speaking about the possible use of Russian assets,
the Ministry stressed the importance of any
solution being legally viable.
"At the EU level, we have recently made significant
progress in the area of so-called windfall profits.
The Central Securities Depository has the
right to profit received at the expense of
the assets of the Central Bank of the
Russian Federation " the Ministry of
Finance concluded, responding to
a request from TASS.
On April 15, Politico, citing numerous experts in the field of
politics and sanctions, reported that the UK will never be
able to confiscate Russian assets, since the country's
leadership has no legal grounds for this.
Frozen assets can also become a tool for future peace
negotiations. In March, the country's Foreign Minister
David Cameron said that London is ready to provide
Kiev with a loan for the amount of frozen assets on
the grounds --- that the Russian Federation will be
forced to pay reparations after the conflict ends.
As Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stressed in early
February, the seizure of any form of Russian assets
will be challenged by Moscow in the courts. He
noted that making these decisions would be
"deeply illegal."
The Russian Foreign Ministry has promised a tough
response to the actions of Western countries to
send frozen assets to help Ukraine.
The ministry called the EU's plans to confiscate them
economic banditry and stressed that they grossly
violate international law, and the union itself
recognizes this.
Western countries have tightened sanctions pressure on
the Russian Federation in connection with the special
operation to protect the Donbass. The decision to
launch it was announced on February 24, 2022,
after the situation in the region worsened.
Soon, the EU and UK approved their decision
------- to freeze the assets of the Central Bank.
______________________________________________
NZZ ---- Ukrainian air defense forces
can no longer protect strategically
important objects
April 15th, 4:46pm
(RT.ru)
Air defense systems of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are
no longer able to protect some strategically important
objects, the Neue Zürcher Zeitung newspaper writes.
"Ukraine.... can no longer defend some strategically
important places from the air from Russian strikes,"
the publication says.
According to the newspaper, the situation in the sky over
Ukraine has significantly worsened in the last few weeks.
Earlier, Colonel of the Austrian Armed Forces Markus
Reisner said in an interview with the German
newspaper Berliner Zeitung that the
military-industrial complex of
Ukraine has suffered heavy
losses during the conflict
with Russia.
_________________________
The expert called Germany's statement
on the transfer of Patriot to Ukraine
....a game for the public
April 13th, 4:49pm
(Izvestia.ru)
The transfer of the Patriot air defense system to
Ukraine will not be decisive, and Germany is
playing to the public. Denis Denisov, an
expert at the Financial University
...under the Government of the
Russian Federation, political
scientist and director of the
Institute of Peacekeeping
Initiatives & Conflictology
- told Izvestia on April 13.
Earlier in the day, the German Defense Ministry announced
that Berlin will supply Kiev with the Patriot system. So far,
the Kiev regime has received two SAMs from Germany.
Later, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for this and called on
the West ...to follow the example of Germany.
Commenting on this, Denisov noted, that Germany sees
itself as one of the leaders of the European Union (EU)
and as a junior partner of the United States, and for
Berlin... this is a kind of burden of leadership.
In his opinion, in the situation related to the
catastrophic shortage of air defense
systems and missiles in Ukraine,
Germany is the main country
in terms of solving this
complex problem.
"Here, we need to look at the other side of the problem.
Now they have found one complex ---- but it does not
solve the problem," the expert said.
Denisov concluded that such a step may be aimed
at attracting attention, that Berlin has found the
systems and is trying to quickly transfer them
to Kiev.
On April 9, German Foreign Minister Annalena Burbok said
that Germany's Patriot reserves for transfer to Ukraine..
were exhausted. According to her, for this reason, at
the meeting of the foreign ministers of the NATO
countries, she, once again, made it clear that
it is necessary to check the availability of
all Patriot systems in Europe and
the world.
On the same day, the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrel,
said that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, had
asked him for seven missile systems. Borrel noted that
Western countries have about 100 Patriot batteries,
but they cannot allocate seven of them to Ukraine.
Speaking about the shortage of Patriots in Ukraine, a
military expert, retired Colonel Anatoly Matviychuk
said that this situation leads to a reduction in the
capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He
recalled that, earlier in Ukraine, they claimed
that they would be able to win --- if modern
missiles, tanks and other weapons
were delivered.
But in the end, this technique still did not give the APU
significant advantages. The same applies... to the
Patriot air defense system.
_______________________________________________
Germany not just complicit -- but active
participant in Israeli genocide in Gaza
April 13th, 10:18am
by Reza Javadi
German authorities on Friday detained and deported
Palestinian-British surgeon Ghassan Abu Sittah,
known for his work in Gaza hospitals, who was
invited to speak about his work and post-
October 7 experience at a Palestinian
conference in Berlin.
Abu Sittah took to X, formerly Twitter, saying he was being
held at a Berlin airport and would not be able to attend
the conference, where he was supposed to speak
about the genocide in Gaza.
It was the latest instance of Germany making it explicitly
clear which side it stands on – the side of genocide
perpetrated by the apartheid regime in Tel Aviv.
Last week, Nicaragua dragged Germany to the
International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The
Hague for breaching the UN genocide
convention -- by sending arms to the
Israeli regime and ceasing funding
of the UN's aid agency.
Pertinently, Germany is a significant arms supplier
to Israel, with a substantial contribution of €326.5
million ($353.70 million) worth of military
equipment and weapons - in the past
year alone.
This figure dwarfs the €32 million worth of lethal
arms exports approved in the entirety of 2022.
Of this substantial sum of $353.70 million, approximately
$22 million accounts for offensive weaponry, including
3,000 portable antitank weapons and 500,000 rounds
of ammunition for various firearms. Notably, a
majority of these exports received approval
after October 7.
Germany's lethal arms exports to the occupied territories,
especially following the events of October 7, have seen
a tenfold increase, making it not only complicit but an
active participant in the genocide unfolding in the
besieged Palestinian territory.
In its case against Germany, Managu revealed Berlin’s
“pathetic” face in providing a raft of military support
to the Israel regime amid a devastating war on the
besieged territory.
Facilitating and participating in the genocide
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a staunch supporter of
the Israeli war on Gaza, faces growing opposition
within the country over his government’s arms
sales to Israel amidst the ongoing
genocidal war.
German government faces internal opposition
Recently, around 600 senior civil servants penned a letter
urging Scholz and his administration to immediately halt
arms shipments to the Israeli regime as it violates Germany's own constitution.
“Israel is committing crimes in Gaza that are in clear
contradiction to international law and thus to the
Constitution, which we are bound to as federal
civil servants and public employees,” read
the letter ---- that was shared widely on
social media.
In addition to calling for an end to arms exports, the letter
demanded that the German government exert pressure
on Israel.. to cease its aggression on Gaza, resume
funding for the United Nations Relief and Works
Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), and
actively advocate for --- the recognition of a
Palestinian state within the 1967 borders.
The signatories chose to remain anonymous, citing a
"climate of fear" within the civil service, where
dissent is met with severe state-sanctioned
repression, including arrests
and prosecution.
One initiator described the current situation in Germany
as "utterly lawless," expressing fear of not only losing
employment but also facing imprisonment for
speaking out against the government's
stance on Palestine.
“There are no rights in Germany at the moment, when it
comes to Palestine,” the initiator was quoted as saying.
“We wrote this letter because this scale of destruction
and violence, the atrocities we are seeing ---- are
unprecedented in recent times. This is a huge
threat to all of our democratic systems if we
justify killing thousands of children” --- the
initiator said, adding that senior ministers
are creating a “collective governmental
gaslighting of what we are seeing on
the ground”.
Joining the chorus of putting pressure on Germany to stop
arms exports to Israel, Human rights lawyers in Germany
-- have taken legal action against the government's
military support of Israel, filing an urgent court
appeal to halt arms exports --- in compliance
with Germany's War Weapons Control Act.
The lawsuit, initiated by organizations such as the
European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Law for
Palestine and the Palestine Institute for Public
Diplomacy, was on behalf of Palestinians in
Gaza and challenged Germany's arms
supplies to Israel in violation of the
War Weapons Control Act.
Citing the International Court of Justice's directive for
Israel to prevent genocide in Gaza, the lawyers argued that Germany's support contradicts its legal obligations.
The legal proceedings - target the federal ministry for
economic affairs and climate action, responsible for
issuing export licenses under the War Weapons
Control Act --- particularly under the Green
Party's leadership.
Germany’s arms supplies violate international law
The European Centre for Constitutional and Human
Rights (ECCHR), one of the lead litigants, asserted
that Germany's actions --- breach international
agreements, including the arms trade treaty,
the Geneva Conventions, and the genocide
convention, all ratified by Germany.
“It is reasonable to believe that the German government
violates the arms trade treaty, the Geneva Conventions
and its obligations under the genocide convention –
agreements that have been ratified by Germany,”
said the statement by ECCHR.
Wolfgang Kaleck, general secretary of ECCHR,
emphasized the importance of upholding
international law and human rights in
German foreign policy, stating that
adherence to legal principles, is
“fundamental” for maintaining
values.
“A basic prerequisite for a rules-based and human rights-
oriented German foreign policy is respect for the law in
its own decision-making. Germany cannot remain true
to its values - if it exports weapons to a war where
serious violations of international humanitarian
law are apparent,” Kaleck was quoted
as saying.
Lawyer Ahmed Abed highlighted the possibility of
revoking arms exports if there is evidence that
the weapons ---- contribute to violations of
international law... expressing optimism
for a swift ruling in the coming weeks.
"Just the assumption is sufficient — that the weapons are used to commit acts that violate international law — to revoke arms exports under the Act," Abed told a news conference in Berlin on Friday.
Calls for arms embargo on Israel gain momentum
The campaign for an international arms embargo on
Israel has gained traction in recent weeks, with
support extending from Algeria to Vietnam in
a vote at the United Nations' top human
rights body.
Notably, two key suppliers of Israel's imported weapons,
the US and Germany ----- opposed the non-binding
resolution at the UN Human Rights Council.
In 2023, Germany accounted for approximately 30 percent of Israel's military equipment purchases, while over 65 percent came from the US, highlighting their significant role in Israel's armament.
An analysis by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) revealed that the US
and Germany collectively ------ supply over
95 percent of Israel's imported arms.
The estimated volume of major arms
transfers to Israel, 2013-2023.
Source: SIPRI
Several governments, including those of Belgium, Canada,
Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain, have halted arms sales
to Israel due to concerns about violations of
international humanitarian law.
In February, Japan's Itochu announced the termination
of its partnership with a major Israeli arms contractor
following a ruling by the International Court
of Justice.
In Denmark, human rights groups have taken legal action
to prevent the export of weapons and military equipment
to Israel, while French lawmakers have urged President
Emmanuel Macron to implement a similar measure.
Arms-control scholar Jennifer L. Erickson suggests that
the European Union could enforce a bloc-wide arms
embargo, but this would require consensus among
all member states, including Germany.
Germany is a signatory to the UN Arms Trade Treaty,
which could prohibit the sale of certain arms to the
Israeli regime --- if there is a risk of them being
utilized to violate international humanitarian
law. Additionally, domestic legislation
could impose further restrictions.
Professor Michael Fakhri, the UN special rapporteur
on the right to food, in an interview with the Press
TV website last month, called for an arms
embargo on the regime.
“Countries should impose a weapon embargo and
economic sanctions against Israel. Countries
currently supplying weapons to Israel are
complicit in genocide and starvation,”
he said.
(source: PressTV)
____________________________________
"Who supplies weapons, wants war"
--- the leader of the opposition in
Thuringia.. on the air of Die Welt
calls for end to arming Ukraine
April 13th, 2024
(source: Die Welt
translated by InoTV)
HOST: President Zelensky, in an interview with my
colleague, Paul Ronzheime,r on Welt TV - the day
before yesterday, accused the West of refusing
to supply weapons.. that his country urgently
needs to survive. So, the question for both
of you, once again, is: should Germany
supply Ukraine with more or less
weapons? Mr. Heke?
BJORN HECKE, leader of the Thuringian AfD: The images
from the front that reach us are unbearable. Thousands
of young men, Russians and Ukrainians.. have bled to
death over the past two years. Young people who
couldn't start a family couldn't start a life. It
leaves me speechless -- and stunned. My
grandparents told me what war is - so I
say, that this war should be ended as
quickly as possible and at any cost.
We need a truce on...
HOST: I only asked about the supply of weapons,
whether Germany should have more or
less weapons...
BJORN HOECKE, leader of the Thuringian AfD: I firmly
believe that the CDU's war rhetoric will not lead to
real progress. Kiesewetter's statements* ...are
unbearable - we do not need an escalation in
this war, we now need Germany as a peace-
making power. Germany must play its role
as a bridge between East and West and
invite people to peace talks. That
means no weapons...
HOST: No weapons.
BJORN HECKE, leader of the Thuringian AfD: Those who
supply weapons do not want peace, they want war.
That's why we need to stop the carnage and start
negotiations right now. And I firmly believe that
we could move on to these discussions, that
these discussions could be planned. We
already had discussions in Istanbul
shortly after the war broke out.''
''You know this, of course: the peace talks were already
going relatively well at that time, but then they were
interrupted. I don't want to talk... about the whys,
whys, and whys.. right now. Unfortunately, many
hundreds of young people died during this time.
The massacre must stop --- immediately.''
* Roderich Kiesewetter ----- member of the Bundestag from
the CDU, one of the main supporters of military supplies
to Ukraine in the German Parliament (approx. InoTV)
InoTV materials contain estimates exclusively from
foreign media ---- and do not reflect RT's position.
UnsuccessfulFrench ban on
anti-Islamophobia protests
April 23rd, 10:17am
(PressTV)
A nationwide protest against Islamophobia was initially
banned by the French government.... but thousands
turned out in Paris ---- despite the risk of facing
judicial intimidation.
Dozens of organizations marched in Paris against
Islamophobia and racism, as Israel's genocide
and ethnic cleansing have increased state-
sponsored repression against Europe's
largest Muslim community.
A major theme of the march was protecting children.
Since October 7th, 2003, children as young as 10
years old had been charged with so-called
'apology for terrorism' -- while a child of
eight was falsely targeted for praying
during recess.
Such scandals have many saying that non-white children
are no longer being treated like children --- but as
suspected fanatics, delinquents and
full-grown adults.
We Muslims are enduring so much Islamophobia
these days, and it's not like there wasn't a lot
of Islamophobia in France already.
The targeting of our children is a step too far
and it's incredible that they have taken this
shameful step.
French Protestor 01
Although France had become an ardently pro-Zionist
country, recent opinion polls show a nation evenly
split on support for Palestine.
As France is accused of targeting Muslim children at
home, the French elite are giving military and
political cover to Israel's mass murder in
Gaza of an estimated 15,000 children
and the orphaning of some
20,000 others.
It's totally unjust, how we are watching murder, torture
and the bombing of embassies and nobody is allowed
to say anything.
We're here to say ------ stop the violence
against Palestinian and Iranian people.
French Protestor 02
The sudden revocation of the permit for a pro-Palestine
protest march gave the French police legal justification
to use a tool of political repression not seen since the
yellow vests ------- massive fines.
A decade ago, during another Israeli invasion of Gaza,
France became the first country to ever ban pro-
Palestinian demonstrations.
They banned pro-Palestinian demonstrations for a whole
month after the October 7th counterattack on Hamas,
handing out hundreds of thousands of Euros
in fines and making mass arrests.
France’s minister of justice has stated that any form of
public support for resistance against the Israeli
regime is a criminal offense.
Police initially banned this March, claiming it was a threat
to public order and possibly anti-Semitic, however, it was
overturned at the last moment.
Many contend that the effort is proof of a long-running
double standard ----- against non-whites and non-Jews.
Anytime there is a march about Palestine or Islamophobia,
the interior minister, in whatever administration, seeks
to ban it. The idea that we are anti-Semitic, is total
nonsense. I get the feeling that I'm more French
than many others who aren't of Algerian
descent as I am, because many have
totally abandoned ----- the longtime
values of French political culture.
Protestor 03
As was the case.... following the two-year state of
emergency France declared, in November 2015,
many have been shocked by a lack of outcry
at this latest targeting of the Muslim
community.... despite perpetual
bragging of being the alleged
birthplace of human rights.
_______________________________________________
French support for Israelfalls
after 6 months of genocide
April 13th, 11:21am
(PressTV)
The highly politicized French polling agencies have rarely
dared to carry out surveys on Palestine, however, after
six months of attempted genocide a new poll shows
public opinion dramatically shifting against Israel.
Since October French public support for the Israeli plan
to eliminate Hamas has dropped from 65% to 56%
while condemnation of Israel's war has jumped
from 35% to 44%.
Polls from across the West continue to show that Israel’s
atrocities in Gaza have had an unprecedented impact.
Following the mainstreaming of Islamophobia, France
had become an ardently pro-Zionist country,
however, the polls show --- that a nation
evenly split on support for Palestine
isn't far away.
Here in France we have many stars and actors who
are Arabs and Muslims who don't say a word about
Palestine and who don't support the Palestinian
cause openly.
It's a shame because they could have
a big impact on the French public.
Instead, they shut themselves up.
Member of Public 01
As Palestinians returned to the city of Khan Yunis,
Gaza's second-largest city, the results of six
months of war are catastrophic.
Israel -- has killed over 33,000 people and wounded
80,000 others in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon.
Famine is affecting half of Gaza's 2.2 million people
while around two-thirds of the nation's buildings
have been reduced to rubble.
The Israeli blockade and genocidal aggression have
---- plunged Gaza into a humanitarian catastrophe.
The lack of access to sanitation and tap water
has increased the prevalence of waterborne
diseases.
This war really has to stop.
People are forgetting that the Palestinians
are humans just like everyone else.
There are just horrible things going
on for women and children.
And there has to be peace immediately.
Member of Public 02
Italian lawmakers returning from a visit to the Rafah border
in southern Gaza say an international reaction to avoid
the aggravation of a humanitarian catastrophe in
Rafah is desperately needed.
After six months the United Nations Human Rights Council,
finally, took a position on the horrific invasion, calling for
a halt in all arms sales to Israel, and for Israel to be held accountable for possible war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Many attribute the Western public opinion shift against
Israel not to the mainstream media or brave
politicians --- but to the gruesome and
heartbreaking images being relayed
on social and alternative media;
images of the human cost of
the West's support for Tel
Aviv, which have long
been censored.
____________________
Le Figaro: War of attrition
----- leads Kiev to defeat
April 12th, 2024
(source: Le Figaro
translated by InoTV)
After the failure of the counteroffensive, Kiev took a
defensive position, but with each passing day of
this war of attrition, the position of its army is
becoming more dangerous, writes Le Figaro.
Zelensky said that without the help of the United States,
Ukraine will lose, and US General, Christopher Cavoli
stressed - that the combat capability of the Armed
Forces of Ukraine - "almost completely depends
on external support."
If now the ratio of artillery reserves, is one to five in favour
of Russia, then in a few weeks, the gap may double, Cavoli
warns. Very soon, Ukraine will become short of shells and
air defense systems, and from the experience of other
conflicts, the general points out that the side that
does not respond to the attack, loses.
Kiev is asking the West to help it hold out this year in order
--- to launch a new counteroffensive next year, a French
official said on condition of anonymity after speaking
with the Ukrainian side. The Zelenskiy government
wants to get a medium-range ground-to-air system (SAMPT) --- which France has deployed in allied Romania.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine need even more missiles,
but they can not be expected in the near future,
because the French army needs them for its own missions.
InoTV materials contain estimates exclusively from
For too long, Europe and the US have played a broken
record about "a free world" and "respect for human
rights" - lecturing the countries of the South about
what governments and economies should be like,
writes L'économiste Maghrébin.
Neither the colonial past, nor the wars in Vietnam, Iraq,
Syria & Libya, nor the countless coups of undesirable
regimes, have convinced the West to reconsider its propensity to judge other states --- completely
discredited by hypocrisy --- and the regular
use... of double standards.
The conflicts in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip, the constant
support for injustice - by Western elites and the media
in their service - as well as generous financial aid for
aggressors: have caused outrage around the world,
including among Western opinion leaders.
The latter now represent governments in Europe and the
United States as puppets in the hands of hidden forces
that can only profit from war and chaos, and are led
by the US military-industrial complex.
Along with the almost daily protests against the genocide
of Palestinians and the sponsorship of the Ukrainian war,
criticism from intellectuals and scientists is increasingly
heard. Michael Brenner, a professor at the University of
Pittsburgh, believes that the failure in Ukraine is
humiliating for Western leaders, and the
destruction of the population of the
Gaza Strip ---- is shameful.
Biden, Macron, Scholz, Sunak and others --- outwardly feel
neither humiliation nor shame, but inside they cannot but
consider themselves guilty of escalating conflicts and
the disastrous consequences --- of anti-Russian
sanctions for the economies of their states.
Instead of taking a step back and changing course to save
what can still be saved - Western elites continue to persist
on the path to "collective suicide", says Professor Brenner.
They do not have the courage to face the truth and see
what they have led their own countries to do, so they
continue to take senseless, absurd and
dangerous measures.
InoTV materials contain estimates exclusively from
foreign media ------ and do not reflect RT's position.
_________________________________
Sezhurne:attacking Russian oil refineries,
Kiev acts within the framework of
legitimate defense
April 2nd, 3:35pm
(Vesti.ru)
By using drones to attack oil refineries in Russia, Ukraine
is acting within the framework of legitimate defense.
This was stated by French Foreign Minister
Stephane Sejourney.
"Ukraine is acting within the framework of legitimate defense," he said ------ at a press conference.
At the same time, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken,
commenting on the strikes of the Armed Forces of
Ukraine, once again, stated that the United
States does not support the attacks of
Ukraine on the territory of the
Russian Federation.
In recent weeks --- the Ukrainian Armed Forces have used
drones to attack several Russian refineries in the
Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, Ryazan regions,
and Krasnodar Territory.
_________________________________________
In France, they declared
Zelensky'sillegitimacy
April 1st, 1:36pm (TASS)
The leader of the French party "Patriots" Florian Philippot said that Vladimir Zelensky is at the head of Ukraine illegitimately. The corresponding entry appeared
on his page in the social network X
(formerly Twitter).
"As of today, Zelensky is illegitimate as the head
of Ukraine," Filippo's publication says.
The politician's statement is related to the fact, that
presidential elections were supposed to be held in
Ukraine, on March 31st, but on November 30th,
deputies of the Verkhovna Rada --- signed a
declaration on postponing the procedure
due to the alleged ''inadmissibility'' - of
holding it.. in wartime. The document
was adopted by representatives of
all factions and groups of the
Ukrainian Parliament.
Volodymyr Zelensky, in turn, explained this...
by the fact that "the majority of Ukrainians"
consider the elections... "dangerous
and meaningless."
North Korea ----sends
economic delegation
to Iran
April 24th, 1:22am
(Lenta.ru)
A delegation from North Korea ----- headed by the
Foreign Economic Affairs Minister Yoon Jong-ho
...has left for Iran. This was reported by the
Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The delegation left Pyongyang on Tuesday, April 23.
Information about the program and purpose of the session... is not provided.
Yonhap notes that the trip may be related to
the intention of the parties to strengthen
ties in the military sphere.
Earlier, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) of South
Korea, suspected Iran of striking Israel with North
Korean weapons on the night of April 13-14.
In particular, Seoul suspects Pyongyang of supplying
Tehran with drones and ballistic missiles. These
suspicions stem from the fact that since the
early 1980s --- Iran has been cooperating
with the DPRK and importing military
technology from there.
_______________________________________
Four Chinese films entered
the top 10 of the world
box office --- at once
April 23rd, 11:30pm
(Izvestia.ru)
According to The Numbers, Chinese film industry releases
in 2024... have reached the top of the global box office.
These are the tragicomedy "You live only once", the
sequel to the sports drama "Pegasus", the drama
"Article 20" and the cartoon "Bears-Neighbours:
through Time and Space". China's combined
box office receipts since the beginning of
2024 ------ have totaled $2.32 billion.
"Looking at recent and upcoming Hollywood releases, as
well as the state that American movie theatres are in,
we can say that the US film industry still has a long
way to go to recover. But the Chinese market
recovered much faster. And China no longer
needs Hollywood to make money from
movies," says Business Insider
expert, Travis Clark.
Indeed, the US cinema business...... has noticeably sunk.
Hollywood is losing its position as the leader of the film
market and China is taking over the baton. In the world
box office ranking, the second "Dune" ..made a little
less than $700 million....... and the superhero film
"Madame Web" from Marvel — only $97 million.
The film "You live only once" earned $479 million and was
on the fourth line of the rating. And "Pegasus 2" with a
result of $468 million --- closes the top five. In turn,
"Article 20", which earned $338 million, is listed
in sixth place. The cartoon " Bears-neighbors:
through Time and Space — is on the seventh
line ----- with a box office of $274 million.
It is noteworthy that the Chinese hits included in the top
....are not entirely blockbusters. These are films for
different target audiences. May will also be rich
in new products from the Middle Kingdom: the
next two full meters will debut in Cannes,
and will also be released worldwide
in early May.
____________________________________
Azov supporter gets position
in US Helsinki Commission
April 23rd, 11:10pm
(Lenta.ru)
Paul Massaro, a supporter of the nationalist Azov brigade
(terrorist organization banned in Russia), was appointed
Director of Personnel of the US Commission on Security
and Co-operation in Europe (Helsinki Commission).
This was reported by the press service of the
commission, RIA Novosti reports.
"We are pleased to announce that Paul Massaro has been
appointed Human Resources Director of the Helsinki
Commission," the commission said.
Massaro previously served as the organization's political
adviser. Then he was noted for photos with the flag of
"Azov" and in clothes with chevrons, which depicted
Publicist Arno Devele told RT that Hunter Biden was
put on the board of directors of the Ukrainian
Burisma Holdings - by the CIA.
According to him, they wanted to use the company as a
Trojan horse. He stressed that the concern's goal was
"to take over the energy market in Ukraine and
squeeze out Russia."
"To some extent, some of the funds that went through
companies like WireLogic were laundered through
them, went through Burisma, and were probably
used as a reserve fund for [financing] terrorism.
This - is a standard scheme. The CIA has been
present in Ukraine for many years," he added.
Earlier in the UK it was said that through Burisma
went money --- for terrorist attacks in Russia.
A criminal case has been opened on the
financing of terrorism by officials of
the US and NATO countries.
______________________________________
Russia's new ally
in Europe named
April 10th, 4:49am
(Lenta.ru)
The victory of the head of the Slovak Parliament, Peter
Pellegrini, in the country's presidential election has
different significance for Russia and Ukraine.
This was reported by the Al Khaleej
news agency.
"Russian President Vladimir Putin has a new
ally in Europe: Peter Pellegrini won the
Slovak presidential election. Thus,
Brussels, Washington and Kiev
received a new blow," the
journalists noted.
Now Slovakia has ceased to be a partner of Ukraine and
has become a friend of Russia. The authors of the
article recalled that, until July, Bratislava's
assistance to Kiev amounted to
$750 million.
Peter Pellegrini won the Slovak presidential election.
At the end of the first round, he won 53.12 percent
of the vote, according to the State Commission
for Elections and Control over the Financing
of Political Parties.
_____________________________________________
US Senator says the country
spends up to $80,000 per
second ---- on Ukraine
April 9th, 6:34pm
(Izvestia.ru)
Currently, US spending on Ukraine is about $80 thousand
every second - and the country should refuse to provide
this kind of assistance. This was stated on April 9 by a
member of the US Senate, Republican from Alabama
Tommy Taberville --- speaking at a hearing in the
Armed Services Committee (AF) to consider
the Pentagon's budget request for fiscal
year 2025.
He noted that Washington cannot afford such a level of
spending and must find more adequate ways to use
its own taxpayers ' funds.
"My understanding and conclusions of my office - are that
we have spent $300 billion in Ukraine since 2014. Now
we print, or burn [there] $80 thousand per second,
$4.6 million per minute. We can no longer
maintain [this pace of spending]. We
need to find better ways to spend
our money," said Taberville.
The broadcast was conducted on the C-span portal.
At the same time Taberville's calculations were challenged
by Deputy Secretary of Defense for Finance, Mike McCord.
He considered the figures given by the senator too high.
According to the deputy minister, the United States spent
money on Ukraine not so rapidly: about $300 million a
year for a number of years, and only in the last two
years - about $40 billion more.
Earlier, on April 9, the Russian Ambassador to the United
States Anatoly Antonov said that Western countries are
growing tired of the burden of financing Ukraine, and
this is not an invention of Russian propaganda. The
diplomat noted that ordinary Americans do not
understand why they should work hard and
pay taxes --- which will then be used to
finance -- and militarily pump up -- a
distant Eastern European country.
At the same time, US entrepreneur and billionaire,
Elon Musk, said that the United States isn't even
considering ''options'' for ending the conflict in
Ukraine, but is pursuing the idea of "eternal
war" .....and this is a "real problem".
On March 11, the White House published a draft budget for
fiscal year 2025. The administration of US President Joe
Biden, demanded that Congress approve a request for
$ 61.4 billion in aid to Ukraine. The total amount of
US defense spending in 2025 --- should be
$850 billion, which is $34 billion more
than the amount adopted in the
country's budget for 2024.
The next day, US presidential aide Jake Sullivan said that
Washington will transfer a new package of military
assistance to Kiev in the amount of about
$300 million.
Western countries have stepped up military and financial
support for Kiev against the backdrop of the Russian
special operation to protect the Donbass.. which
was announced by Russia's President, Vladimir
Putin on February 24, 2022, after the situation
in the region worsened due to shelling by the
Ukrainian military. However in recent years
.....the West has increasingly voiced
statements - about the need to
reduce support for Ukraine.
___________________________
Political scientist Mezyuho:
The US is doing everything
to destroy Russia
by Polina Poletaeva
April 9th, 5:55pm
(RT.ru)
Political analyst, Ivan Mezyukho, in an interview with
RT, commented on the report that the Investigative
Committee of Russia has opened a criminal case
on terrorist financing after deputies asked the
agency to check the possible facts of
the involvement of top officials of
the US and NATO countries in
recent terrorist attacks.
The political scientist noted that Joe Biden's son,
Hunter Biden, worked for Burisma Holdings,
which was involved in financing the
terrorist attacks.
"With this in mind, today we can safely say - that the presidential family --- by and large --- can bear the
absolutely foul name of"sponsors of terrorism".
And I think that in the light of the presidential
election, Donald Trump will not miss the
opportunity to label his opponent and
his family members - in this way,"
Mezyuho believes.
According to him, the company Burisma Holdings
is prone to corruption, dirty money laundering
and financing terror.
"This is a joint corruption initiative of the American
and Ukrainian authorities, of different years. Of
course - in my opinion - the American special
services are behind Burisma, which simply
tried to cover their tracks by using this
legal entity -- for their own terrorist
purposes. We have, once again,
seen today --- that the United
States of America is doing
everything possible to
destroy our country.
And these are not
myths at all, this
- is a reinforced
concrete fact"
- the source
concluded.
Earlier, the investigative committee found that
the money received through the oil and gas
company, Burisma Holdings, which
operates in Ukraine ---- over the
past years ---- was used to
finance terrorist attacks
in Russia and abroad.
_________________________
Chinaand Russia deepen cooperation
in the face of--- Cold War mentality
April 9th, 8:59am
(Prensa Latina)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed that
Russia and China - must resist the Cold War
mentality, as well as hegemonism and
international interference.
After a meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister,
Sergei Lavrov, his Chinese counterpart said that
both sides defend the principle of the equality
of all countries.
Lavrov assured ------- that Moscow and Beijing will continue
cooperation in the fight against terrorism after the attack on the concert hall on the outskirts of Moscow. “As you know, attacks on Russian cities have become more frequent, resulting in casualties, including among
civilians, and there has been an increase in the
number of hackers trying to hack into Russia's
electoral system,” although this did not stop
the successful holding of the elections,
Lavrov assured... and stressed his
gratitude to China ---- for
sending observers.
Both sides rejected acts of intimidation and
unilateral sanctions while ratifying the
deepening of bilateral cooperation.
The issue of Ukraine... was also on the table of talks,
with Wang Yi expressing his hope that the conflict
can be extinguished as soon as possible.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning
reiterated on Monday, that “China has always
adhered to an objective and fair position,
actively promoted peace talks and a
political settlement” on the
Ukraine issue.
Lavrov arrived in Beijing this Monday on a two-day visit,
which includes discussions of other topics such as
cooperation in the international arena, focusing
on.... the United Nations, the BRICS, the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization,
the G20, APEC ------ and other
multilateral mechanisms
and fora (forums).
____________________________
The children and women of the
Gaza Strip --- are our children
and mothers
April 8th, 1:27pm
(Prensa Latina)
The children of Gaza are our children too, the mothers of
Gaza are our mothers, Ramón Mederos, president of the
Segundo Paso para Nuestra América (Second Step for
Our America) foundation, said on Monday.... in an
interview with Prensa Latina in Caracas.
The Venezuelan academic reflected on the latest events
in the Gaza Strip, regarding the holding of the Voices
for Palestine Cultural Festival in the Museum Square
on Sunday, with the participation of an important and prominent number of poets, musicians
and lecturers.
Mederos highlighted the fundamental role of culture “in
all this because where the verses sound, the music is
heard... but the scoundrels flee and the legs of the
wicked.... tremble.”
It is a way to vindicate the struggle of the Palestinian
people and that is why, we meet to “raise our voices
together,” he said.
Mederos stated that Venezuelans, due to their “huge and
beating heart,” have no difficulty to understand the pain
of other peoples, like that of Palestine ------ who are
suffering “one of the most terrible genocides
in the world” in the Gaza Strip.
He pointed out that there, more than 70,000 tons of bombs
have been dropped on the most vulnerable population,
which is more than three times the atomic bomb
dropped on the city of Hiroshima in 1945.
The president of Segundo Paso para Nuestra América
added that more than 33,000 people have been killed,
half of whom are children, women and elders, and
still, there are people who doubt whether this is a genocide, “double standards apply, what
a hypocrisy.”
He noted that there are those who think that raising their
voices for the Palestinian cause, protesting against the
genocide, demonstrating in favour of that people and
any just cause, “can have a high price,” entail
consequences for those who say it .... and raise their voices.
“We have to rehumanize humanity ---- and culture is
one of the most important ways - and languages,”
he stressed.
The message is that we are facing a fourth fascism, “I
declare Zionism, in alliance with the United States,
the “fourth historical fascism” and it is an evil
that not only affects Palestine, but that all
our nations have the same threat of
“becoming Palestine,” he said.
Mederos commented that there is a “macabre dichotomy”
of the civilizational model of capitalist modernity - and it
leads and turns any country into “human or non-human”
depending on the interests of the hegemon.
Then, this threat is global, it is not just a problem for
Palestine, so the“remedy has to be global”and the
peoples ---- have to demonstrate and unite for a
definitive boycott.
The Venezuelan academic noted --- that this has to be
forceful against the economy, the hegemonic media
and Zionist propaganda, “to defeat Zionism and
the United States ---- that gives them all the
material resources to murder.”
The call is to unite, not to think that this is far away and
foreign, but that it is something that touches us closely
because humanity is one - one family, he emphasized.
Mederos pointed out that the Voices for Palestine Cultural
Festival was held in the context of World Al Quds Day,
whose cause became an instrument for awareness,
mobilization and organization of the insurgent
peoples of the South, who - as “we saw: they
took to the streets in millions in the world.”
Beyond the governments, of the“empty shells of multilateral institutions” --- are the peoples
who are going to make Imam Khomeini’s
dream come true --- that Palestine
becomes the epicentre of the
spiritual transformation of
humanity, he assured.
______________________
Stagnation, recession of EU economies
is price for anti-Russian policies — PM Mishustin
April 3rd, 5:14pm (TASS)
Europeans are paying for the anti-Russian policies of
their leaders with the stagnation and recession of
their economies, Russian Prime Minister
Mikhail Mishustin said.
"The dynamics in Europe at the end of 2023 were not far
from zero. In Germany, even a small recession was
recorded at -0.3%. This is the real price that
residents of the countries that impose
sanctions against us --- pay for the
ambitions of their politicians,"
he said.
Russia, according to Mishustin -- is focused on
protecting its own interests and development.
At the same time, Mishustin said that he is not entirely
satisfied with the result of the fight against inflation,
although the government is constantly dealing
with this problem.
"There are issues that are always in the focus of
the government’s attention, we work on them
constantly, but we are not satisfied will all
the results," Mishustin said.
______________________________
Gen. Richardson Visits Argentina
-- to Secure SouthCom Projects
April 3rd, 4:34pm
(teleSUR)
On Tuesday night, Gen. Laura Richardson, the head of the
U.S. Southern Command (SouthCom), arrived in Buenos
Aires, where she is scheduled to meet with officials
from the administration of Argentine President
Javier Milei ----- to deepen cooperation in
''regional defense''.
Presidential spokesperson, Manuel Adorni, said that the
SouthCom leader will meet with Chief of Staff Nicolas
Posse, Defense Minister Luis Petri, and the Joint
Chiefs of Staff.
The visit is part of "the excellent relations that Argentina
has been having -- with the United States," since Milei
took office, Adorni said, mentioning that the USS
George Washington aircraft carrier is also
expected to visit Argentina in May.
Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador to Argentina, Marc Stanley,
indicated that this is Richardson's 3rd visit to the South
American country, with her main objective being the
deepening of ''defense cooperation'' in the
Western Hemisphere.
"We are committed to working closely with Argentina
so that our collaborative security efforts benefit our
citizens, our countries, and our hemisphere in a
lasting and positive way," the SouthCom
commander said.
Richardson will also participate in a panel discussion on
the integration of women in peacekeeping, defense,
and security missions. She will then travel to
Ushuaia in southern Argentina to interact
with local military personnel to learn
about their missions -- and the role
they play... "in safeguarding vital
maritime routes for global trade."
The U.S. Embassy informed that Richardson will
lead a ceremony to transfer a Hercules C-130H
transport aircraft to the Argentine Air Force.
Based on Richardson's previous statements,
sociologist Juan Olsson recalled that the
SouthCom leader traveled to Argentina
due to the U.S. concern... about the
Chinese presence.
In the province of Neuquen, where the SouthCom
already has a presence, Richardson proposes
establishing “humanitarian bases.”
“Another of the central axes of her agenda - is to guarantee U.S. control over the Parana River - through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which means managing the region's main food outlet ------- and controlling the traffic that involves Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil,” Olsson states, adding that the US is trying to displace the Chinese presence in the ports of Lima and Tambues, on the Parana River.
“Behind Richardson's visit to our country - is the
geopolitical dispute between 2 world models:
Washington's intention to keep control of a
unipolar world --- and its dispute with
emerging powers, that promote
a multipolar world model,”
he highlighted.
____________________________
Reuters: EU buys more gas
from Russia - now liquefied
April 3rd, 2024
(Source: Reuters
retold by InoTV)
The new route from west to east - leaves Europe tied to
Russian gas, Reuters notes. Since the outbreak of the
Ukraine conflict, Western European governments
have sought to reduce their energy dependence
on Russia, but when it comes to gas, they are
increasingly replacing pipeline supplies with
Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG).
A Reuters analysis of the data showed that more than a
tenth of Russian gas previously delivered via pipelines
to the EU has been replaced by LNG delivered to
EU ports.
Private Russian producer Novatek last year sold cargo to
the EU at reduced prices that buyers in other parts of
the world refused, and Gazprom increased exports
from its new Port LNG project, offsetting a
reduction in pipeline supplies to
the west.
Spain --- which is home to the EU's largest fleet of import
terminals and has not previously imported Russian gas
via pipelines, has become the largest re-exporter of
Russian offshore supplies.
The growth in LNG volumes has led to the fact -- that the
share of Russian gas in EU supplies has again reached
about 15%. According to available data, Russia
shipped more than 15.6 million metric tons
of LNG to EU ports last year, which is
37.7% more than in 2021.
This increase does not violate EU law. Western European
governments imposed sanctions on oil after the start of
a special operation in Ukraine in February 2022, but
did not do the same for natural gas. Instead, the
EU Commission has called for a voluntary
phase-out of Russian fuel imports...
by 2027.
At the same time, gas supply records indicate only
previous cargo destinations - not their final origin.
This means that LNG arriving in Belgium, France,
Spain and the Netherlands is stripped of the
Russian label, which can scare off buyers
before it is transported inland or
reloaded on other ships.
However --- the transition from pipeline transport to LNG
imports has significant environmental costs, as energy
is required for gasification, transportation and re-
liquefaction of fuel - a trend that runs counter
to the EU's goal of achieving zero
greenhouse gas emissions
by 2050.
InoTV materials contain estimates exclusively from
foreign media --- and do not reflect RT's position
The total real gross domestic product (GDP) of the
Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) grew by 3.8%
by the end of 2023... Russian Prime Minister
Mikhail Mishustin said on Wednesday.
"The Eurasian Economic Union is also developing successfully. Its total real gross domestic product - grew by 3.8% last year," he said.
He recalled that in 2023 Russia chaired the EAEU
bodies and the leaders of the countries included
in the association adopted a declaration on the
development of the Union's integration for the
future, called the "Eurasian Economic Path".
According to the Prime Minister, this document will
become a guideline for further strengthening of
strategic interaction of the EAEU states in
all spheres.
Speaking about Russia's participation in other
international associations - Mishustin drew
attention to the expansion of cooperation
with the countries of the Commonwealth
of Independent States (CIS).
"Russia's trade turnover with them grew
by almost 6% last year," he noted.
In addition... Russia has maintained and strengthened its
presence in key regional associations, Mishustin noted.
"First of all, it is the BRICS, where our country holds the
presidency this year, and the SCO," Mishustin said,
stressing that Russia plans to deepen dialogue
with other constructive organizations,
including within the framework of
the humanitarian agenda in
education, science and
culture, as well as
in sports.
___________________
Cuban Young Communists
discuss crucial issues
of society
April 3rd, 7:37am (Prensa Latina)
Members of the Cuban Young Communist League (UJC)
are debating on Wednesday, the first official day of the 12th Congress of the organization --- crucial issues of society --- and the challenges of the new generations.
Some 400 delegates and nearly 100 guests --- are
analyzing in commissions, issues related to the
organic functioning of the UJC, the
organization’s cadre policy, and
the defense of the homeland.
Gathered at the Havana-based Conference Centre, the
youth also review productive economic issues, social
policies, political-ideological work, and work with
student organizations.
As part of the Congress’ activities on Tuesday,
they received an update on implementing the
Comprehensive Policy for Children,
Adolescents, and Youth.
During a debate with the Cuban ministers of Education,
Higher Education, Communications, Labour and Social
Security, Health, and Science, Technology, and the
Environment - they were interested in: how much
the country is doing to insert young people into
the labour market, how teenage pregnancy is
addressed, and the participation of social
workers.. in the transformation
of communities.
This Tuesday, centres and outstanding young people
were awarded the Flag of Honour, the Julio Antonio
Mella Order, and the Abel Santamaría and José
Antonio Echeverría.. Medals.
In the ceremony, to which President Miguel Díaz-Canel
attended, UJC Second Secretary Meyvis Estévez
stressed that Cuba has a firm and loyal youth,
“aware of its challenges, committed to its
time and its history,” and inspired by the
ideas and legacy of the historic leader
of the Revolution, Fidel Castro.
The 12th Congress of the UJC is celebrating the 62nd
anniversary of the organization, which was founded
by Fidel Castro on April 4, 1962, under the theme
“Create your Happiness.”
A year before, the José Martí Pioneers Organization
(OPJM, in Spanish) had been constituted on the
same date.
______________________________________________
World’s oldest man dies in Venezuela
at 114.... his longevity aided by a
'daily glass of brandy'
April 3rd, 7:06am (TASS)
Venezuela’s Juan Vicente Perez Mora, the world's oldest
verified living man, died at the age of 114, Venezuelan
President Nicolas Maduro reported.
"Juan Vicente Perez Mora --- who was in the Guinness World
Records as the world's oldest verified living man, died at
the age of 114. I hug his family --- and express my
condolences to the citizens of El Cobre [the
town where he was born]," the president
wrote on his page on social media
platform X.
According to the El Nacional newspaper, Perez died of
respiratory complications at the age of 114 years
and 339 days, just days before his birthday.
On February 4th, 2022, he was added to the Guinness World
Records as the world's oldest verified living man (he was
112 years and 253 days old at the time) --- surpassing
Spain's Saturnino de la Fuente Garcia, who died at the age of 112.
Perez attributed his long life to "steady work, enough rest
and recreation, going to sleep early and a daily glass
of brandy."
According to the newspaper... the supercentenarian
ate well, prayed, drank water and went to bed early.
Perez was born in El Cobre, Venezuela, on May 27th, 1909,
the ninth of ten children. The supercentenarian himself fathered 11 children. According to the newspaper, he
spent his final years in a house located on a farm
in San Jose de Bolivar.
___________________________
Venezuela’s Bolivarian Government
Presents Anti-fascism Law
April 2nd (teleSUR)
The Executive Vice President of the Bolivarian Republic of
Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, presented, today, before the
National Assembly of Venezuela, the draft Law against
Fascism, Neofascism and Similar Expressions, on
behalf of President Nicolás Maduro.
The law arises from the violent events that occurred in the
nation during the years 2014, 2015 and 2017. In addition,
the draft legislation seeks to prevent the recurrence of
situations such as when extremist factors took over
the National Assembly to create destabilization in
the country.
According to Delcy Rodríguez, the law has four chapters,
with 30 articles each. In his words: "This law prohibits
the dissemination of messages that condone or
promote violence as a method of political
action - and denigrate democracy - its
republican institutions and values".
The vice president said that the first chapter of the law will
give general provisions.... while the second chapter
develops a set of measures --- to protect against
fascism, neo-fascism and similar expressions.
The third chapter provides for the establishment of the
High Commission Against Fascism, Neo-Fascism and
similar expressions. Finally --- the fourth chapter
establishes a set of criminal & administrative
penalties for non-compliance with this law.
"The new expressions and forms of fascism are not only
violence, hatred and death, but economic fascism as
well as the criminal blockade and sanctions,"
Rodriguez added.
For his part, the president of the National Assembly of
Venezuela, Jorge Rodríguez Gómez, affirmed that -----
"this bill could be called a bill to protect humanity
----- with high human values".
"It is important that Venezuela assume the vanguard in this
debate that at this time generates various suffering in the
world, as is the case of the people of Palestine," he said.
________________________________________
Collapse of world colonialism
----- inevitable, says Putin
April 2nd, 3:57pm (TASS)
The West blames Russia for the collapse of colonialism
around the world, but this process was inevitable,
Russian President Vladimir Putin said at
a meeting with film director
Emir Kusturica.
"These historical phobias are still there. Some still put the
blame on Russia, for someone’s loss of colonial power.
They do not stop accusing us for helping the peoples
of Africa, Latin America and Asia, to find their feet
and to fight for freedom. They think that Russia
is to blame for the collapse of colonialism.
This is not true - at all," Putin said. "The
Soviet Union accelerated this process
--- but it was inevitable."
"Africa, Latin America and Asia had long outgrown the
principles of the colonial regime. People no longer
wanted to be slaves. Yes, of course, the Soviet
Union somehow stimulated it, pushed it, but
these historical processes were inevitable
--- they were objective," the Russian
leader concluded.
________________________
Swedes oppose NATO,but Stockholm
never bothered to ask their opinions
— Russian diplomat
April 2nd, 1:19pm (TASS)
Swedish citizens are against the country joining NATO --- but the government simply never bothered to ask their opinion, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
"Three weeks ago --- Sweden finally joined NATO. We know,
that no one asked the Swedes themselves about it --- but
the other day the Swedish newspaper Goteborgs-Posten
published the results of a public opinion poll --- on how
Swedes feel about the country’s membership in the
military alliance. The numbers --- are quite self-
explanatory. Swedes were asked about the
prospect of Swedish servicemen being
sent to participate in NATO combat
missions, or exercises. Three out
of five citizens were against it,"
the diplomat wrote on her
Telegram channel.
According to her, the decision of the cabinet of Prime
Minister Ulf Kristersson to join NATO has "polarized
Swedish society.""Half of the country is strongly
opposed to NATO membership," Zakharova
pointed out.
"Sweden’s NATO membership is a risky and costly change
of priorities. And, of course - the Swedes do not need it.
That is why there was no referendum on membership,"
she stressed. "Precisely because - no one wanted to
join NATO, and no one wants to join NATO, except
for ------- the Washington-oriented caretaker
government in Stockholm," she said.
Hungary's parliament ratified Sweden's NATO membership
agreement on February 26, 2024. After Turkey, Hungary
was the last NATO country that had not ratified the
protocol to approve Sweden's accession to
the alliance.
Helsinki and Stockholm received formal invitations to join
NATO at the North Atlantic Alliance’s summit in Madrid
in June 2022. On March 7, the protocol on Sweden's
accession to NATO officially took effect, making
the country the 32nd member of the alliance.
_____________________________________________
BRICS’ new step to end
US dollar dominance
April 2nd, 10:24am
(Vesti.ru)
A coalition initially made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China,
and South Africa, BRICS expanded for the first time since
2010 to include Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, and the UAE at the
start of the year.
The BRICS bloc of emerging economies is considering,
developing an independent payment system based on
digital currencies and blockchain to reduce reliance
on western financial systems.
Announcing the plan last month, Russian presidential
aide Yury Ushakov said creating an independent
BRICS payment system is an important goal for
the future, which would be based on state-of-
the-art tools such as digital technologies
and blockchain.
“The main thing is to make sure it is convenient for
governments, common people, and businesses,
as well as cost-effective and free of politics,"
Ushakov told state news outlet TASS.
A coalition initially made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China,
and South Africa, BRICS expanded for the first time since
2010 to include Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, and the UAE at the
start of the year..... with 44 other nations having
reportedly expressed interest in joining
the bloc.
Last year, BRICS nations stepped up trade in local
currencies to strengthen their economies and
counter the greenback.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Mahdi Safari has said
creating a unified currency in the BRICS group
could be very effective.
“By using national currencies, the process of eliminating
the use of the dollar in commercial exchanges begins,
and we are interested in continuing this process,”
Safari said in January.
With significant foreign reserves, abundant natural
resources, a combined population that accounts
for over 40% of the global populace ----- and a
shared vision for multilateral cooperation,
BRICS has evolved into a cohesive
group of economic prowess and
geopolitical influence and a
force to reckon with.
What to expect from Iran’s membership in BRICS
Since 2022 when Russia became the most sanctioned
nation in the world - in the wake of the Ukraine war,
the bloc has seriously been pursuing the creation
of a common currency to de-dollarize trade and
circumvent Washington's weaponizing of the
western financial system.
However, a unified digital currency demands cohesive
economic and monetary policies and given many
disparities among the BRICS members, the
idea appears rather far-fetched.
Experts say blockchain is currently a more viable and
straightforward option that can help devise a cross-
national payment system and lead to the financial
evolution of the BRICS group as a new era in
global economics.
Crypto technology and blockchain is already being tipped
as a potential alternative to the SWIFT system for cross-
border payments, which is subject to blatant US
meddling and manipulation.
Supporters say blockchain offers benefits like speed,
transparency, lower costs, and enhanced security
through encryption and decentralization. It also
lessens reliance on the US dollar and similar
currencies, helping BRICS nations fortify
their economic resilience against
external pressures.
Transparency and security is the hallmark of blockchain
because it does not require a central authority and its
state is maintained through distributed consensus.
Nevertheless, a key factor in the BRIC’S decision is
autonomy and independence. By adopting a block-
chain-based system, BRICS nations can maintain
monetary policy autonomy while benefiting from
shared technology prowess.
Reserve, settlement and unit of count are among of the
characteristics of traditional money. By accepting the
dollar as an international currency, countries of the
world have exposed themselves to the monetary
policies of the American Federal Reserve. This
means... if the Federal Reserve were to print
money to make up for financial imbalances
and budget deficit, the domestic inflation
of the United States would increase and
the value of the dollar would be
affected as a result.
In other words, changes in US policies and the
dollar rate increase or decrease inflation in
other countries.
Hence, BRICS countries are looking for a means of
settlement to cushion their finances against the
effects of changes in US monetary policies.
Setting up an independent system on the blockchain
platform is an important event. BRICS already
accounts for a third of the world's economy;
if other countries use the system the world
will witness a sea change in global
transactions --- marked by the
decline in the dominance
of the US dollar.
In terms of economic, political and legal integration, the
system is very important since cryptocurrencies can
be used throughout the world, as they do not refer
to national currencies. Moreover, investors are
encouraged by high income without taxes
and control.
Some BRICS members such as Russia and Iran depend
on the sale of oil and gas, for their national revenues.
Developing digital technologies can help to reduce
their dependence on natural resources.
Moreover, the use of digital technology can significantly
reduce the cost of monetary circulation - given that
unlike traditional money, the crypto technology
does not involve the issuance of coins or -
banknotes and the costs of production
and protection against forgery --- are equally reduced.
Last but not least, the shift to a blockchain and crypto-
based international payment system by the BRICS is
a pragmatic middle ground that doesn’t directly
challenge the West, allowing major neutral
nations such as India and Brazil to join
the wagon - without qualms.
__________________________________
India's population may exceed
2.2 billion by mid-century
— MSU
April 1st, 12:12pm (TASS)
India might face a demographic crisis some time in
the middle of this century when its population is
expected to grow to 2.2 billion, the Rector of
Moscow State University (MSU) Viktor
Sadovnichiy said.
He noted --- that these conclusions were the result of
university research using a number of mathematical
models to forecast trends in the economy,
demography, and healthcare.
"In India, there will be problems: in the 2030s-2040s we
see a peak. This is our forecast. We, as scientists, are
warning about this scenario," Sadovnichiy said,
speaking at the International scientific
conference "Mathematics in the
constellation of sciences,"
dedicated to the 85th
anniversary ---- of
the MSU Rector,
celebrated on
April 3.
Sadovnichiy pointed to a graph on which the projected
population of India by the middle of the century is
estimated to reach over 2.2 billion people.
India and China "have come closest to the limits of
environmental capacity," as noted on the slide.
"Thanks to the introduction of strict birth control, in China,
the demographic trajectory will smoothly transition [from
around 1.6 billion people in 2050] - to a stationary level
of 1.2 billion people [by 2100]. But India.. may face a
massive eco-demographic crisis," according to
the MSU Rector's presentation.
According to real-time data on the World Population
Review statistical organization portal... India's
population is 1,438,498,364 people, while
China's is 1,425,334,609 people.
__________________________________
Massacres During Holy Week
Holiday ------- Shock Ecuador
April 1st, (teleSUR)
From Thursday to Sunday, residents of the provinces of
Manabi and Guayas have experienced unprecedented
events during Holy Week.
On Thursday afternoon, six adults and five children arrived
at Puerto Lopez beach to enjoy the Easter holiday.
However, the following day, a group of about
20 heavily armed individuals kidnapped
them from their hotel.
Hours later, the children and one adult were released on a
highway. The other five kidnapped adults were murdered,
and their bodies were abandoned in an area near
the hotel.
"None of those involved had criminal records. Apparently,
the kidnappers mistook them for members of a rival
gang," France 24 reported.
A day later, in Manta City in Manabi, hitmen gunned
down a group of people outside a house, resulting
in the deaths of four citizens, one of whom was
an active-duty military member.
The text reads, "In Guayaquil, a new armed attack
ended the lives of several people after being
attacked by gunmen inside a party in
block 2 of the Fortín, creating
a massacre."
On Saturday.... hitmen traveling in a car and a motorcycle
attacked a group of people attending a volleyball game
in the province of Guayas, leaving eight dead and a
dozen injured.
On the following night, in Guayaquil City's Fortin sector,
several individuals on motorcycles fired at citizens
gathered in the street, resulting in three dead
and three injured.
In January, President Daniel Noboa declared a "State of
Exception." He stated that Ecuador was in an "Internal
Armed Conflict" against criminal gangs linked to drug
trafficking, which were defined as "terrorist groups."
However, these measures have not been effective
so far.
"Three massacres -- in two days, in the midst of a state of
emergency, cast doubt on the security measures taken
by the Noboa administration to control crime.
Despite the militarization and curfews ----
kidnappings have increased fivefold
in some cities," France 24 says.
"Citizens fear that violence will escalate further when the
state of emergency ends on April 8. The new wave of
violence is also taking place as the country
prepares for a referendum on April 21st,
which will adress key security issues
such as the support of the Armed
Forces to the Police against
organized crime,"
it added.
_______________________________
Türkiye plans to control inflation
April 1st, 8:38am
(Prensa Latina)
Türkiye’s Government reported on Monday its plan
to control public spending and cut inflation,
Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek....
unfolded, in his first statement
at the end of local elections
held on Sunday.
The minister said that, in addition to a rigid monetary policy
and the selective granting of credit, they’ll devote priority
attention to the economy, controlling public spending
to deplete inflation to single digits, which is the
main target.
Simsek noted that thanks to the structural reforms to be
implemented by the Government by the Medium-Term
Economic Program flowchart.... the Cabinet plans
to undergo transformations in the economy and
raise labour productivity and competitiveness.
____________________________________
Prices for maritime security guards
in Red Seashoot up following
Houthis attacks — portal
March 30th, 7:23pm (TASS)
Prices for private maritime security guards in the Red Sea
region have risen sharply recently due to resurgence of
piracy and the activities of the Houthis, the Somali
news portal Shabelle Media Network reported
citing data from the specialized analytical
group Splash Extra.
"With the Red Sea disruption created by the Houthis
latterly combined with resurgent pirate attacks off
Somalia, demand for armed guards has leaped in
2024, and with it prices have shot up with three
-day transits costing as much as $20,000
today," the portal wrote.
Prices have especially risen for long-serving bulk carriers.
However, much depends on independent appraisers who
determine the cost of protecting a particular vessel.
Their activities are not regulated in any way, and
the cost of security services that they
determine can vary greatly.
For example, two experts' estimates differed by more than
a quarter in the case of the container ship Ever Given,
which may have become the world's most famous
merchant vessel after blocking the Suez Canal
three years ago.
"The marine appraisal profession..... is not regulated in the
international shipping market, and banks tend to accept
appraisals from any broker, without requiring any
qualifications - just the premise that brokers
have the pulse of the market.''
''Brokers make more money in brokerage commissions than
in appraisal fees, thus, some appraisals may be biased,"
said Basil Karatzas, CEO of New York-based Karatzas
Marine Advisors, as quoted by the portal.
Following the escalation of the conflict in the Gaza Strip,
the Ansar Allah movement warned that it would carry
out strikes on Israeli territory and prevent ships
affiliated with it from passing through the
waters of the Red Sea and the Bab
el-Mandeb Strait as long as the
operation in the Palestinian
enclave continued.
Since mid-November last year, the Houthis have
attacked dozens of civilian vessels in the Red
Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Somali pirates, largely unheard of in the last ten years,
have become active again --- and are threatening
shipping near the Horn of Africa, according
to Africa news.
Since last November, they have made 20 attempts
to hijack ships in international waters off
the coast of Somalia.
__________________________________________
US’ AT&Treports leak
of personal data --- of
73 mln subscribers
March 30th, 4:45pm (TASS)
The personal data of 73 million subscribers of one
of US’s largest cell phone carrier got leaked to
the darknet, the company announced.
"AT&T has launched a robust investigation supported by
internal and external cybersecurity experts. Based on
our preliminary analysis, the data set appears to be
from 2019 or earlier, impacting approximately
7.6 million current AT&T account holders
and approximately 65.4 million former
account holders," the carrier said
in its statement.
The leaked information, which includes names, and social
security numbers, got leaked to the darknet about two
weeks ago, but the leak source has not been
discovered yet. The company claimed that
the incident ----- has not affected its
operation, in any way, so far.
A major disruption occurred in the AT&T operation in
February, which was investigated by the Cyber-
security and Infrastructure Security Agency
(CISA), together with the provider itself
and the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC).
___________________________________
Cuban and Mexican Scientists ----
Join Efforts Against Alzheimer’s
March 30th (teleSUR)
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has become a global health
challenge, due to its devastating impact on quality
of life and the growing number of people affected.
Describing advances in the fight against this disease,
Cuban and Mexican researchers are collaborating on
innovative projects to develop treatments and
methods of early diagnosis.
In Cuba, studies led by Doctor of Medical Sciences Juan
Libre Rodríguez have estimated that about 10.2% of the
population over 65 years suffers from dementia, with
Alzheimer’s being the main cause. This means that
approximately 160,000 people are living with this
disease in Cuba today, a figure that is expected
to rise to about 273,000 by 2040.
Mitchell Valdés Sosa, Director General of the Centre for
Neurosciences of Cuba (Cneuro), noted that although
the causes of AS are not yet known with certainty,
the researchers continue to focus their efforts on
developing effective treatments and methods
of early diagnosis.
One of the outstanding projects -- is the development of
the Cneuro-201 molecule, which has shown a powerful
neuroprotective capacity in animal models.
This research, carried out in collaboration with Mexican
institutions such as the Center for Research and
Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic
Institute (Cinvestav) and the National
Autonomous University of Mexico
(UNAM), has favorable prospects
for Alzheimer’s treatment.
In addition, studies are being conducted to develop early
diagnostic methods using Cuban radiopharmaceuticals,
such as Cneuro-120. These efforts also include
research into treatments for other related
conditions, such as head trauma, using
NeuroEpo, a product developed at
Cuba’s Molecular Immunology
Centre (CIM).
Dr Valdés Sosa emphasized --- that these joint efforts
demonstrate the commitment of Cuban and Mexican
researchers in the fight against Alzheimer’s & other
neurodegenerative diseases.
Although the road ahead is challenging, hope and
conviction in the contribution of these advances
to the health of both nations --- remain strong.
AD, a form of dementia that affects memory and
cognitive functions, was first described in 1906
by German neurologist Alois Alzheimer.
Today, more than 50 million people worldwide are living
with this disease, with the number projected to rise
to 80 million by 2030 and 152 million by 2050.
__________________________________
Serbian president says will look at
visiting BRICS summit in Kazan
March 29th, 5:40pm (TASS)
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has promised
to look at the possibility of attending the BRICS
summit in Russia’s Kazan, in October.
"When will the BRICS summit be held? In October?" he
asked Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic, who was present
during Vucic’s televised address to the nation.
Dacic noted that the Serbian president was invited as a
special guest. "Thank them for the invitation. We will
look at it, in due time," Vucic said.
Russia is holding the presidency in BRICS in 2024.
The program of its presidency includes more than 200
various events, with the central one being a summit
of BRICS leaders, in Kazan, in October.
___________________________________
The US --- Drops Charges Against
Venezuelan Diplomat Alex Saab
March 29th, 3:54pm (teleSUR)
On Friday, Judge Robert Scola signed the final dismissal of
all charges against Venezuelan diplomat Alex Saab, who was imprisoned in the US... accused of crimes such as money laundering.
Previously, the US federal government formally asked the
Federal Court for the Southern District of Florida to drop
the charges against Saab.
That request indicated that the lifting of charges proceeds
by virtue of a grant of executive clemency, signed by the
U.S. President, Joe Biden, on December 15, 2023.
"This request from the Prosecutor's Office regarding the
case against Alex Saab, like the decision to 'dismiss
A text reads, "The U.S. persecution against citizen Alex
Saab has been demonstrated. After almost 4 years of
hostilities against Alex Saab and his family, the U.S.
government presented a motion to dismiss all the
charges it brought against him. This is how a Delinquent State acts!"
"With a Prosecutor's Office that did not offer evidence
to prove the charges against Saab, the defense of
the Venezuelan diplomat ---- presented solid
arguments. These discredited the false
accusations against him," it added.
Colombian-born businessman Alex Saab spent 1,280 days
in a US prison after being deported from Cape Verde.
In June 2020, he landed in this African country with
a stopover, on a flight from Venezuela to Iran.
Cape Verde authorities arrested him following an arrest
warrant issued by the United States, which accused
him of crimes..... such as money laundering and ''frontmanship''.
_______________________________________
Serbia facing pressure: over
military neutrality, ties with
Russia, says president
March 29th, 3:18pm (TASS)
Belgrade is constantly under pressure because of its
independent policy, Serbian President Aleksandar
Vucic said in an address to the nation.
"It’s general pressure on Serbia and its people," Vucic said, pointing to the country’s military neutrality and refusalto join sanctions on Russia.
According to Vucic, Western countries --- "are under
huge duress, because of the Russian armed forces’
achievements and uncertainty about the outcome
of the conflict in Ukraine."
Earlier, Vucic said on social media that Serbia was in
for hard times as the news of the previous few days
"directly threatens the vital national interests of
both Serbia and Republika Srpska" (one of the
two entities of Bosnia & Herzegovina TASS).
The president told reporters later that the
situation in the country remained stable
and safe - despite being difficult.
Addressing the nation soon after the launch of Russia’s
special military operation in Ukraine, Vucic said that
though his country supported Ukraine’s territorial
integrity, it would not impose sanctions on Russia.
He also announced that Serbia would temporarily suspend
all army and police drills with foreign partners. Vucic
pointed out that Serbia saw Russia and Ukraine as
fraternal nations, and was disappointed about
what was going on in Eastern Europe.
He added that Belgrade was ready to
provide humanitarian assistance
to Kiev.
____________________________________
Zakharova noted symbolism in
the date of legalization of
marijuana in Germany
March 29th, 3:07pm
(RT.ru)
The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry,
Maria Zakharova, pointed out the symbolism in choosing
the date of legalization of the cultivation and storage of marijuana in Germany.
"The German Parliament ..followed the path of Canada
and the United States and approved the legalization
of "weed"... The date of cannabis legalization in
Germany was chosen symbolically - April 1,
right on April Fool's Day," she said.
Zakharova called drugs the destruction of the nation
and the rejection of the future for herself and
her children.
Earlier in Germany, a bill on the legalization and
decriminalization of cannabis passed through
the Bundesrat (federal Council of members
of land governments). As part of the law, it was proposed to allow the cultivation, storage and use of this drug, from April 1.
The adoption of the initiative was preceded by
criticism from the leadership of some lands,
as well as from the medical community.
____________________________
GDP growth rates of CIS countries
exceed outlook - by World Bank
and IMF — Russian Deputy PM
March 29th, 11:58am (TASS)
The growth dynamics of the gross domestic product (GDP)
of the CIS member countries exceeded the forecasts of
the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund
(IMF), Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey
Overchuk said at the International
Economic Forum of the
CIS countries.
"The actual growth rates -- of real GDP of the CIS countries
significantly exceeded the forecasts of the International
Monetary Fund and the World Bank," he said.
"For example, the real GDP of Russia last year was 3.6% of
GDP, in Armenia this figure is 8.7%, in Kazakhstan - 5.1%,
in Tajikistan - 8.3%, in Turkmenistan - 6.3%, in Kyrgyzstan
- 6.2%, in Belarus, which is also under tough sanctions,
it is 3.9%," he added.
According to the Russian Deputy Prime Minister, such a
significant increase was achieved largely due to the
cooperation of these countries with Russia, both
in terms of ......expanding trade and industrial
operations and in terms of labour migration.
"Currently, the Commonwealth of Independent States
is the most representative regional international
organization uniting states on the basis of
historical, economic and cultural
commonality," the Deputy
Prime Minister said.
_________________________
West again derailsUN Security Council
meeting ------ onNATO’s aggression
against Yugoslavia
March 28th, 4:56pm (TASS)
For the second time this week, the UN Security Council
was unable to hold a meeting devoted to NATO’s 1999
aggression against Yugoslavia due to the West’s
resistance, a TASS correspondent reported.
When the event’s agenda was put to a vote, six countries
voted in favour ....and nine abstained. Therefore, the
document failed to receive the required support.
The vote was held on France’s request.
Similar events unfolded, on March 25th, when Western
delegations took advantage of the rules of procedure
to derail a meeting on the 25th anniversary of the
1999 NATO bombings of Yugoslavia.
Despite earlier informal agreements, French Permanent
Representative to the UN Nicolas de Riviere demanded
the event’s agenda be put to a vote. No delegations
voted against the document, but it was turned
down ---- after failing to garner the nine
necessary votes to pass.
The Russian mission responded by saying that the
''requirement'' of approving the agenda of every
meeting through a procedural vote --- shall be
applied to future Security Council sessions
as well --- as long as member countries
continue to fail to stick to their
"normal modus operandi.".
____________________________
Trade between Russia and China
hits all-time high — deputy PM
March 28th, 10:47am (TASS)
Russia - is doing more and more business with countries of
the Global South, with the country’s flourishing trade with China, a prime example of this, Deputy Prime Minister
Alexey Overchuk said, at a meeting with Chairman
of the Standing Committee of the National
People's Congress of China, Zhao Leji.
"The Russian economy, has reoriented to markets of the
Global South and East. Trade turnover with China has
increased by 23.1% reaching almost $228 bln, while
PRC statistics have this number at $240 bln,"
Overchuk informed.
Russia and China have therefore surpassed the $200 billion target set by the heads of the two states, the Russian
official said.
"This, is an all-time high for our countries. Russia hasfor the first time moved to fourth place amongforeign trade partners of the People's Republic of China," Overchuk stressed.
Ovet 90% of bilateral transactions between Russia
& China are made in rubles and yuan, the deputy prime minister noted.
"The Russian ruble has recently become the main export
currency for Russia. Its share is already about 40%," he stressed.
"The yuan tops the list among friendly currencies for us. 25% of Russian foreign trade --- is now calculated in the yuan,"the official added.
_____________________________
Kiev --- fears destabilization
puts police, military on alert
March 28th, 7:51am (TASS)
Kiev's military, police and security forces will keep a closer
watch on crowds and public order in the capital under a
decision made at an urgent meeting of the city’s
defense council, the head of the Kiev city
military administration, Sergey Popko,
has said.
The council does not exclude attempts by groups of
saboteurs to penetrate into Kiev "to destabilize the
situation in the capital" and is also concerned
that the Russian Armed Forces may use
"weapons with the shortest time of
flight to the target."
"The defense council has decided - that all security and
military structures of the city of Kiev, in accordance
with their powers, shall pay greater attention to
crowded places and ensure compliance with
public safety and order in the capital. All
necessary measures shall be taken to
contribute to the safety of Kiev’s
population," the press service
of the administration quotes
Popko as saying, on his
Telegram channel.
Social networks will be monitored separately for
"spreading disinformation, provocations and
other content aimed at destabilizing the
situation in the capital."
The council will urgently consider the issues of future
public events in Kiev. Also, in order to ensure the
safety of citizens, regulatory documents will be
revised, which relate to the operation of public
transportation, sports, cultural, educational,
medical, entertainment and other public
events. In addition, the council ordered
to ensure constant access of the
population - to shelters.
Popko urged Kiev’s residents to remain calm
and not to panic, adding that the measures
are preventive.
___________________________________________
PeruvianProsecutor’s Office
declares the President
in absentia
March 28th, 7:47am
(Prensa Latina)
President of Peru Dina Boluarte was declared in absentia
by the National Prosecutor, Juan Carlos Villena --- for
postponing an interrogation and the presentation
of her three luxury watches, for which she is
being investigated.
Prosecutor Villena released a statement in which he
described as --- “an act of rebellion” Boluarte’s
request to reschedule her statement and
the exhibition of the Rolex watches for
whose possession the president is
under investigation, for alleged
illicit enrichment.
According to the prosecutor in charge of the case, the
trials were scheduled for March 26th and 27th, but he
went to Boluarte’s home, and they did not open the
door and a security officer told him that he would
be received at the Government Palace, which
did not happen.
Villena considers that urgent and immediate measures
must be taken --- to achieve the Prosecutor’s Office’s
mission. According to jurist Carlos Caro, measures
are... the search of Boluarte’s house and the
Government Palace, to find the watches,
since the immunity of the president is
only legal... and does not prevent
legal operations.
The prosecutor’s statement casts doubt on the president’s
defense argument for the rescheduling, saying that this
week and the next... she has activities to attend to,
which, he considers, delays the investigations.
Villena points out that the postponement request does not
explain whether these activities were scheduled before
receiving notification from the Prosecutor’s Office, nor
does it substantiate whether Boluarte’s presence at
these events is essential.
Moreover, the Comptroller General, Nelson Shack,
announced in Parliament - that the Prosecutor’s
Office is investigating the sworn declarations
of income and assets of the president in
order to verify --- if she has an asset
imbalance, that is, the difference
between her income - and her
assets and acquisitions.
____________________________
Russia... needs to 'overhaul'
demographic policy,shoot
for 600 mln people —
congress
March 27th, 2:56pm (TASS)
Russia should strive to bring its population up to
600 million in the next 100 years, according to
the document approved by the World
Russian People’s Council, at its
unscheduled congress.
The document, entitled "The 25th World Russian People’s
Council’s Precept: ‘The Present & Future of the Russian World’," which was approved on Wednesday, said, "The
state should set a long-term strategic goal to increase
Russia’s population to the ‘Mendeleev’ level of 600
million people over [the next] 100 years of
sustainable demographic growth," the document said.
Russian chemist and thinker Dmitry Mendeleev, the father
of the Periodic Table, calculated, at the turn of the 20th
century, that Russia’s population would be over
500 million people in 2001.
The document said that in general, Russia needs to draw
up and adopt a new concept for its demographic policy
involving a "fundamental overhaul" of key indicators.
_______________________________________
We Will Uphold ---- the
People's Sovereignty:
Venezuelan President
March 27th, 1:37pm
(teleSUR)
On Tuesday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro
asserted that his administration will uphold the
sovereignty of the people and will not accept
foreign interference in its internal affairs.
"Anyone who comes to give opinions and meddle in
Venezuela's internal affairs, will receive a slap,
whether it be the European Union, rightists,
or cowardly leftists. Even in the worst
circumstances, we have made
Venezuela and our people
respected," he said.
Maduro recalled that the presidential elections scheduled
for July 28 - are the most diverse and pluralistic seen in
the last 60 years given that 37 political organizations
registered 13 candidates from various social
backgrounds and ideological orientations.
The Venezuelan president also highlighted the
massive citizen participation in the
registration of his presidential
candidacy... before the
authorities -- of the
National Electoral
Council (CNE).
"I did not register a candidacy. I registered a dream,
an historic project, a legacy," Maduro pointed out,
to demonstrate the vitality of popular support
for the Bolivarian Revolution.
"People chanted the slogan --- 'Maduro is the candidate.' I
replied: 'I am not the candidate. You are the candidate
because -- we all defend our homeland. I am just an
instrument that obeys the orders of the people,"
he stressed.
"The mobilization is the demonstration of the immense
popular power that we have built. It reflects --- the
immense strength of the Bolivarian movement,"
the Venezuelan president said.
"It is an unprecedented and beautiful growth process, in
which we are at the centre but we call on everyone to
build economic prosperity," he stated, adding that
the nation's well-being will be achieved with the
"Homeland's Seven Transformations" plan.
Maduro also made comments regarding the most recent
attempt to assassinate him, which was orchestrated
by far-right terrorists.
"They try to attack my life, as was demonstrated yesterday
with the capture of two individuals from the terrorist
movement called Vente Venezuela... Right-wing
governments and cowardly leftists, say
nothing about this attack. They, are
not capable of condemning coups
or attacks against revolution
and peace. They remain
complicitly silent,"
he said.
Maduro urged the Armed Forces and popular movements
to remain vigilant as, in the last 15 days, the authorities
have captured conspirators linked to Vente Venezuela.
"These people are linked to the terrorist group Vente
Venezuela... As revealed by the Attorney General,
they were carrying weapons and were standing
20 metres from where he was going to be.
Who discovered them? The people
because they saw them acting
strange.. and nervous,"
he said.
"The governments trying to meddle in Venezuela's internal
affairs remain silent in the face of reality. They - are not
capable of saying a word condemning terrorists. They
will not take us out of the streets - because we are
heading towards a great victory on July 28,"
Maduro said.
On Tuesday, Venezuelans commemorated 30 years since
the release of Commander Hugo Chavez from Dignity
Prison, an event that transformed the political
history of this South American country.
"After 30 years, we are here - renewing ourselves, growing,
and building... We are made of clay and people. With the
Liberator Simon Bolivar's ideals, we continue --- with
consciousness and revolution," Maduro stated.
_____________________________________________
Xi emphasizes China's unstoppable
technological progress in talks
with.... Dutch leader
March 27th, 12:45pm (TASS)
China’s scientific and technological progress ---- is
unstoppable, and its people will enjoy the fruits
of this, Chinese President Xi Jinping said
during a meeting with the acting Prime
Minister of the Netherlands, Mark
Rutte, who is currently in China
on a two-day working visit.
"The Chinese people also have legitimate development rights, and no force can stop the pace of China's
scientific and technological progress," the
country’s foreign ministry cited Xi
as saying.
He added that China will continue to pursue a win-win
approach in its relations with other countries, open
up more to the outside world --- and share the
benefits of development with all parties.
Xi stressed that globalization has its downsides,
but it is here to say. The only choice - is
openness and cooperation, he
pointed out.
According to the Chinese leader, the Netherlands has
become a real gateway for China-EU cooperation. He
noted - that China is willing to maintain exchanges
with the Netherlands at various levels, adhere to
communication and dialogue, and strive for
mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.
"China is willing to expand imports of high-quality goods
from the Netherlands and welcomes Dutch enterprises
to invest in China," Xi Jinping said, adding that he
hopes the Dutch side will in turn provide "a fair
and transparent business environment for
Chinese enterprises."
He urged the two sides to build on cooperation in
areas such as agriculture, as well as tap the
potential for cooperation, especially in
the artificial intelligence area.
________________________________________
BRICS to become platform for
joint development of Russia,
Global South — official
March 27th, 10:29am
(TASS)
Russia regards BRICS as a platform for multisided
cooperation with the participation of countries
of the Global South and it is ready to ensure interdependence, which is required for
their successful joint development,
Russian Deputy Prime Minister
Alexey Overchuk said.
"BRICS may virtually become a platform, where countries
of the Global South will be taking decisions, expressing
their views," he said at the Boao Forum for Asia - as he
commented on the prospects of cooperation between
members of the integration and other states.
"And Russia’s presence, in particular, will ensure interdependence.. which is necessary for our
joint development relying on the principles
of consensus and mutual respect,"
the official stressed.
BRICS has expanded this year, Overchuk noted. "The
countries of the Global South joined in particular
and a fairly high number of states, has
announced their wish to join it,"
he added.
Russia’s Deputy PM expressed confidence that BRICS will be playing "a particular role."
"It is very important, and it was announced [at the forum] today that no one wants to be a leader, all --- want to be respectful to each other.
This.. is an absolutely different pattern of international relations - compared with the one... that has been established in the world now," he concluded.
The BRICS group, established in 2006 --- first expanded in
2011, when South Africa joined the four founding nations
of Brazil, Russia, India and China. The decision to invite
six more countries to join BRICS, including Argentina,
was made at the group’s summit in Johannesburg in
August 2023. However, Argentina declined the
invitation to join in late December.
Five new members (Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates,
Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia) formally became full-fledged
members of the BRICS group on January 1.
The Boao Forum, established by the Chinese government
in 2001, has been held since 2002. The platform brings
together about 30 nations from the Asia-Pacific region.
This year’s forum themed "Asia and the World: Common
Challenges, Shared Responsibilities" is taking place
on March 26-29. The Russian side is represented
by Overchuk, who is accompanied by Russian
Ambassador to Beijing, Igor Morgulov.
______________________________________
Swiss residents ---- overwhelmingly support neutrality amid shifting security landscape
— poll
March 27th, 8:18am (TASS)
More than 90% of Swiss residents support retaining the
country’s neutral status while 30% of the population is
open to the idea of joining NATO, according to the
results of a public opinion poll on security
published by the Swiss government
on its website.
According to the survey held on January 3-22, 2024,
91% of residents said that they adhere to neutrality.
This - is six percentage points less than in the poll
held in January 2022, before the onset of combat
in Ukraine.
In the survey, 30% of respondents support joining NATO,
which is one percentage point less than in 2023. The
number of those wishing for ''closer ties'' with the
military bloc, has decreased by 3% over the
past year, resulting in 52%.
According to the poll results... 92% of Swiss residents feel
they are safe and 79% have an optimistic outlook for the
country’s future. Over the past year, the number of
those who feel that Switzerland needs its own
armed forces has increased by 4% (an
increase --- up to 82%).
The survey revealed that 31% of Swiss residents support doing away with compulsory military service.... which is 4% less than in January 2023.
Switzerland, a non-NATO and non-EU member, supports
the EU sanctions against Russia, in connection with
the special military operation in Ukraine ----- in spite of its neutral status.
In March 2022, the Russian government approved a list of
foreign countries and territories that have committed
unfriendly acts against Russia, or Russian
companies and citizens.
The Swiss Confederation is included
in the list of such countries.
_____________________________________
Samnytt: residents of Sweden do not
believe that there is a democracy
in their country
March 27th, 2024
(source: Samnytt
translated by InoTV)
A recent survey by the research company Novus showed
that a smaller proportion of Swedish residents (45%)
believe that they have the opportunity to influence
social development and be involved in the
processes of making important
decisions.... about the
country's future.
The public opinion survey, which was conducted through
an online survey of randomly selected respondents,
involved more than a thousand people aged
18 to 84 years.
The survey found that more than a third of Swedes (37%)
are afraid to interfere in political life for fear of negative
consequences, reprisals, insults, hatred and much
more --- if they express the "wrong" opinion.
Only one in four Swedes (26%) believes that Sweden
is developing for the better, while the majority of
the population (36%) is convinced of
the opposite.
In recent years, the so-called "deplatforming and culture"
has been increasingly discussed in Scandinavia. Many
people in Sweden notice -- that their opinions are
censored - and silenced during public debates:
they aren't allowed to speak in official media
and restrict access to social networks.
One in three respondents (34%) do not feel safe
expressing their opinions online. Only one in
five (22%), on the contrary, believes that
in Sweden you can freely express your
opinion on social networks.
________________________________________
New Assassination Attempt
on Venezuelan President
is Thwarted
March 26th
(teleSUR)
On Monday, the Venezuelan authorities detained three
individuals in Caracas as they attempted to sabotage
popular mobilizations in support of President Nicolas
Maduro's candidacy registration for the presidential
elections on July 28.
"We have just apprehended three individuals --- who were
planning to create conditions for violence on this day,"
said Caracas Governor Nahum Fernandez, who is also
the vice president of Mobilization and Events for the
United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV).
"These are far-right people who lack popular support and
know they will lose the elections," he stressed, adding
that one of the three detainees had a device prepared
to throw at the Venezuelan president.
A few minutes later, during the massive event for the
registration of his presidential candidacy, Maduro
revealed more details about the arrests.
"Today, two men with weapons who intended to carry out
an attack on me, were captured. They have confessed.
They are part of the fascist party, Vente Venezuela,"
he said.
Subsequently, Attorney General Tarek William Saab
reported that Jerry Ostos and Carlos Castillo were
detained while carrying firearms just 20 metres
away from the platform from which the
Venezuelan president was speaking
with his supporters.
Saab also mentioned that the detainees will be charged
in court for the crimes of terrorism, illicit association,
attempted murder, incitement to hatred, and illegal
possession of weapons.
Over the last year, Venezuelan authorities have thwarted
no less than seven conspiracies aimed at targeting
Maduro and senior officials, thus seeking to
create an environment of political
violence ------- ahead of the
presidential elections.
_________________________
The political scientist called hypocrisy
the EU's readiness to cooperate with
Russia --- on terrorism
March 25th, 1:43pm
(Izvestia.ru)
Terrorism is used by the West against the Russian
Federation, so the statement of the EU political
establishment about its readiness to resume
cooperation with Moscow in the fight
against terrorism --- is a kind of
hypocrisy. This opinion was
expressed to Izvestia, on
March 25th, by political
analyst Dmitry Perlin.
Earlier in the day, EU Foreign Policy spokesman, Peter
Stano said at a briefing in Brussels that the EU could
agree to cooperate with Russia in the fight against
terrorism... if Moscow makes such an offer.
"Undoubtedly, the issue of global security, including those
related to anti-terrorist threats ---- is a key one in world
politics and in relations between different countries.''
''However, terrorism is currently being used by the West
against Russia, and the US is a key player, exporting
the idea of terrorism. For example -- Ukraine is an
open, in fact terrorist state that supports many
banned terrorist organizations on its territory.
Both the US and the EU — none of them has
ever expressed disapproval. The West, has
never helped Russia resolve this terrorist
threat -- so this statement should be
considered as hypocrisy, as an
unusual openness in Europe,
as, in fact - it is not from
Russia, that we should
expect proposals, but
they should be in the
form of -- concrete
steps -- from the
West," he said.
He recalled that Russia has repeatedly made concessions
to Western politicians. For example... the same Minsk
agreements, in which Russia acted as a guarantor
and extended a helping hand in dialogue with the
Donetsk and Luhansk people's Republics --- but
the West refused to fulfill its own agreements.
"They should not make any specific proposal -- eliminating
the idea of Nazism, extremism and terrorism in Ukraine is a specific proposal -- that the West should fulfill before demonstrating its readiness to fight terrorism,"the political scientist summed up.
The EU and the US --- suspended cooperation with Russia
in various areas after the start of the special operation
to protect the Donbass.
So, the director of the Department for New Challenges
and Threats of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Vladimir
Tarabrin, said in August 2022 that Washington and
Brussels initiated the freezing of dialogue with
the Russian side on anti-terrorism - under a
far-fetched pretext.
The shooting at Crocus City Hall, occurred on March 22.
The concert hall, was supposed to host a performance
of the band "Picnic". Unidentified men in camouflage
broke into the building, started shooting ---- and set fire to the concert hall.
A criminal case was opened under Article 205 of the
Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Terrorist
act"). According to the latest data, the number of
victims reached 182. The FSB of Russia reported
that after the terror attack the attackers were
going to cross the border of the Russian
Federation with Ukraine: they had
relevant contacts, on the
Ukrainian side.
A total of 11 people were detained, including four terrorists
directly involved in the attack. The latter were detained in
the Bryansk region with a difference of several hours.
The Russian Interior Ministry clarified -- that the four
suspects in the terrorist attack are foreign citizens.
The four accused of the terrorist attack were placed
under arrest for 1 month and 28 days, until May 22.
Sessions in the Basmanny Court of Moscow
were held on the evening of March 24.
The terrorist attack in the Moscow region was condemned
in a number of international associations. Among them
are the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO), the United Nations,
and others.
In addition, a number of state leaders stated that they
could provide the necessary assistance against the
background of the incident.
So, Chinese leader Xi Jinping said: Beijing
supports Moscow in the field of security.
__________________________________________
tass: in St. Petersburg, evacuated
visitors to the "Passage"
shopping centre
March 25th, 12:39pm
(RT.ru)
Visitors to the Passage shopping centre on Nevsky Prospekt in St. Petersburg were evacuated. This
is reported by TASS --- with reference to the
department store administration.
The report notes that the administration of the trading
house "received a call", after which it was decided
to evacuate.
"All visitors and tenants have been evacuated.
The special service with dog handlers was
called," the report says.
Yesterday evening there was an evacuation of visitors to
the shopping and entertainment complex "London Mall"
in the Nevsky district of St. Petersburg.
_______________________________________
NATO's Attempt to Dismember
Serbia, Fails: President Vucic
March 25th, 12:21pm
(teleSUR)
On Sunday, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that
his country will never surrender its province of Kosovo
and Metohija nor join the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO).
On the Remembrance Day for the Victims of the NATO
Aggression on Yugoslavia, people gathered in
Prokuplje to pay tribute to the victims of the NATO bombing.
"They wanted to destroy our homeland, to destroy Serbia
and dismember it, but they failed," Vucic said at a
commemoration event marking the anniversary
of NATO's bombing.
"25 years have passed, and we remain unbroken... We will
never consent to the dismemberment of Serbia! Kosovo
and Metohija shall never willingly be torn from us,"
he stressed.
Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia
in 2008. Serbia rejects it and considers Kosovo its
own province.
The event began, with a somber commemoration led by
Serbian Orthodox Church Patriarch Porfirije, who later
stressed in his speech --- that the bombing revealed
"the depth of human cruelty when one chooses
to abandon humanity."
President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik condemned
NATO's violation of international law and disregard for
innocent lives, while praising Serbia's defiance
and resilience.
"We remain dignified people who cherish our freedom,"
Dodik said, emphasizing the importance of unity as
reflected in the widespread observance of the
Remembrance Day.
In 1999, the U.S.-led NATO forces carried out continuous
airstrikes for 78 days against Yugoslavia, leaving over
8,000 civilians dead or injured and nearly
1 million more displaced.
Cluster bombs and depleted uranium bombs banned by
international conventions, were used in the strikes,
which also caused wide-scale destruction
of infrastructure.
_________________________________________________
Turkish MP urges humanity: to
unite against US imperialism
March 23rd, 10:50pm
(Izvestia.ru)
Humanity needs to unite to resist the imperialism of the
United States, which is spreading terrorism and war in
the world. This was stated on March 23, by Türkiye's Serdar Uskuplua deputy of the Vatan party of the Grand National Assembly (Parliament) - to Izvestia.
"It is absolutely clear, that American imperialism is behind
this attack. America organized this terrorist act - in order
to push European countries into the fire against Russia,"
he said, commenting on the March 22 terrorist attack
in the Moscow region.
The parliamentarian stressed that a terrorist act in Russia
is just as deeply wounding, as if an inhumane attack had
occurred in Türkiye. Uskuplu once again added that the
Turkish people condemn the terrorist attack in the
Moscow region.
Earlier in the day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov,
held a series of telephone conversations with colleagues
from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Hungary, Turkey, Jordan
and Mali on the terrorist attack in the Crocus City
Hall near Moscow.
As Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria
Zakharova noted, the world majority forced the
West to change its rhetoric on the incident,
which initially could only be limited
to general phrases of regret
and sympathy.
_____________________________
Movimiento Futuro ------ Nominates
Maduro as Presidential Candidate
March 23rd (teleSUR)
The Future Movement (Movimiento Futuro) that brings
together different social sectors in Venezuela, ran
President Nicolás Maduro as a presidential
candidate - declaring "many reasons for
our candidate, but above all, because
we want our children with a future".
At the headquarters of the National Electoral Council,
representatives of the new political movement gave
their support to the candidate Maduro, thus joining
other organizations and parties that have given
their support to the president, who seeks
his reelection.
With the aim of promoting the union of social movements,
and consolidating national political peace, this Saturday
the governor of the state of Miranda, Hector Rodriguez
Castro announced the launch of the Future Movement.
Rodriguez Castro said that ''today is born in the heat of
Popular Power the Future Movement', which summons
leaders, women, youth and workers. He explained
that it is a space for those citizens who are not
part of political organizations, but they want
to boost growth.
He stressed -- that the creation of the Future movement
promotes the union of the people’s great will to build a
future. "In the movement, can come all those who
want to contribute to the country, those who
want to build a just society," he said.
"We have decided that comrade Nicolás (Maduro), loyal
to Commander Chávez, will be the candidate of the
Future Movement.¡ Venezuela’s coming times
are times of hope, times of light!" he said.
Rodriguez Castro... also questioned the sectors of the
national right that "They want to return Venezuela
to the storms of hatred -- to the guarimbas; the
Venezuelan people do not want to go back,
they want stability, from peace to the
future, to go forward, we do not
want to go back to the times
of hatred," the governor
reiterated.
__________________________
Soyuz MS-25 spacecraft with Belarusian
national on board --- delivered into orbit
March 23rd, 10:10am (TASS)
The Soyuz MS-25 crewed spaceship -- which blasted off
from the Baikonur spaceport earlier on Saturday, has
separated from the third stage of the Soyuz-2.1a
carrier rocket, a TASS correspondent reports
from the spaceport.
The spacecraft is expected to dock with the Prichal
nodal module of the International Space Station
(ISS) at 6:10 p.m. Moscow time (3:10 p.m.
GMT) on March 25.
The three member crew - includes Marina Vasilevskaya
of Belarus, the country’s first space mission member,
Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky, and NASA astronaut, Tracy Dyson.
Novitsky and Vasilevskaya will spend 12 days at the orbital
outpost. They are expected to return to Earth aboard the
Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft - together with NASA astronaut
Loral O’Hara on April 6. Dyson’s space mission will last
until September; she will return to Earth with
Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko
(TASS special correspondent at the
ISS) and Nikolay Chub.
The space launch was initially scheduled for Thursday
but was automatically aborted seconds before liftoff
because of a problem with a chemical power source.
_____________________________
Neuralink chip patient - writes
first post on X using thoughts
March 23rd, 12:26am (TASS)
The first patient to get a cybernetic implant from Elon
Musk's Neuralink, Noland Arbaugh, wrote his first
post on the social network X, with his thoughts.
"First ever post made just by thinking, using the
Neuralnk Telepathy device!" Musk commented,
reposting the original message.
"Twitter banned me because they thought I was a bot,
X and [Elon Musk] reinstated me because I am,"
the original post said.
Nolan Arbaugh, 29 --- said he was paralyzed in an accident
approximately eight years ago ---- and can't feel anything below his shoulders. The man can now use his thoughts
to move the cursor on the chessboard on his laptop
screen, rearranging the pieces. Arbaugh says he
plays computer games --- and takes breaks, to recharge his device.
On January 28, Musk said that the Neuralink implant had been successfully implanted into the human brain. According to him, the device's performance... is promising.
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)
_______________________________________________
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!
Neocons have taken over Committee: UK's FCO Committee Report 'Through the Looking Glass' by Neil Clark
''The decision not to intervene in Syria has had very real consequences for Syrians, their neighbours, the UK and our allies. We believe the Government needs to under- stand the role the UK's inaction has had, and learn the lessons from it, for the future.''
Between December 2015 and June 2016 there were a total of 51 British air strikes in Syria. This year, there has been further bombing, including the targeting of military bases near Damascus and Homs in April.
"We believe that the consequences of inaction can be every bit as serious as intervening," the Foreign Affairs committee report states.
How can we explain this extraordinary attempt to portray Britain's extensive and well-documented operations in Syria as 'not intervening'? After all so much is on the public record, including, on the Ministry of Defence website, details of RAF air strikes.
A look at the membership of the Foreign Affairs Committee is illuminating. Its chair, Tom Tugendhat, Tory MP for Tonbridge and Malling, is a hard- core neocon and a former member of the Intelligence Corps. Peter Oborne, the highly respected political commentator, wrote about the 'neocon coup' that took place on the committee last year and warned us of its consequences. But how many were paying attention?
Other members of Tugendhat's committee include Ian Austin, the Labour MP who likened Russia's holding of the World Cup to Nazi Germany's hosting of the 1936 Olympic Games, and who told Jeremy Corbyn to "sit down and shut up" when he was criticizing the Iraq war.
Then we've Chris Bryant, a signatory to the statement of principles of the uber neocon, Henry Jackson Society, and Priti Patel, who stepped down from the Cabinet, in 2017, when it was revealed she had undisclosed, unofficial meetings with Israeli ministers.
In fact, if we look at the composition of the committee and compare it to the far more balanced one under the chairmanship of Crispin Blunt, (which produced a critical report on the UK government's intervention in Libya in 2016) it's no surprise we've got the document we have.
Neocons know that after the disasters of Iraq and Libya, 'interventionist' foreign policies have been utterly discredited. So, the only way out is to portray Syria, however ludicrously, as an example of UK 'non-intervention', in the hope that some people might fall for it and support 'rectifying' the 'inaction' at some point in the near future. Perhaps in response to a non- independently verified chemical weapons attack in Idlib, later this month?
The Foreign Affairs Committee report, which makes George Orwell's 1984 look quite understated, is perfectly timed for that.
(Source - taken from longer article on RT, Beyond Orwellianism') :
Rail’s funding for enhancements during 2019-24 will be
£9.4bn followingthe government’s spending review.
This is down almost 10% on the £10.4bn which rail regulator
the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) had previously calculated.
The reduction was omitted from Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s
announcement last week when he told the Commons the
government would deliver on “record investment plans
in infrastructure.”
Industry experts have said the decision is likely to affect a
number of forthcoming projects, which they say calls into
question Britain’s ability to rebuild following the corona-
virus pandemic.
The government defended its decision,saying it continues
to“invest significant sums in modernising our railway” but
admitted it was“closely examining”spending to“strive for
a better deal for taxpayers”given the scale ofsupport
for railways.
A Department for Transport spokesman added: “We must
ensure that, where necessary, projects are reviewed to
reflect the changing demand for rail services as a
result of the pandemic.”
Rail unions have warned the decision threatens jobs when
Britain should be investing and building its way out of the
Covid and climate crisis — also hitting out at the govern-
ment also over its latest environmental targets, which
were announced today.
Transport Salaried Staffs’ Associationgeneral secretary
Manuel Cortes said: “On the day when the government
has committed itself to increased binding targets to cut emissions, it is foolhardy to cut investment to the green transport offered by our railways.
“The fact that this spending cut didn’t feature in the Chancellor’s
speech, in which he lauded record investment in rail, but was
instead snuck out, says it all. The Tories are duplicitous -
and their commitment to levelling up and investing in
our futures, is paper thin.
“Without doubt cutting investment in our railways is both short-
sighted and reckless, particularly when borrowing costs are at
a historic low.
“You can’t trust Boris Johnson and this lot as far as you can
throw them.”
Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said itwas timefor the
government to “come clean” on what it plans to cut.
He added: “How is Britain to be rebuilt after Brexit, and after
the pandemic, which has ravaged this country’s economy?
And what has happened to this government’s promises?
“This revelation puts a question mark over not only some long-
planned, and much-needed, improvements to our transport
infrastructure, but to the whole question of rebuilding this
country after the pandemic.”
Environmental campaigners hit out at the government’s continued
spending on road building while snatching back cash to improve
rail infrastructure.
Greenpeace UK’s Sam Chetan-Welsh: “The Chancellor is happy
to waste £27bn on road building schemes that will tear up our
countryside --- adding to harmful air pollution and climate-
wrecking emissions that we desperately need to reduce.
“But when it comes to the little money that was available
for upgrading our railways, he’s snatched it back at the
first opportunity.
“This is completely indefensible, as is his attempt to bury this
bad news, by leaving it out of last month’s spending review.
“Rishi Sunak either doesn’t get that we’re in a climate
emergency or he simply doesn’t care.”
RMT representatives demanded thegovernment reverse the
cuts and instead invest and build its way out of the corona-
virus and climate crises.
The union said the spending cut could jeopardise planned
works to electrify parts of the rail network, threatening both the creation of new skilled jobs and Britain’s carbon reduction promises.
General secretary Mick Cash said: “These massive cuts to
rail infrastructure budgets are a shameful indictment of the
government’s understanding of the importance of our rail
network and fly in the face of their stated objective of
building and investing our way out of the
Covid-19 crisis.
“At a time when our economy and transport links need a
once in a generation investment in rail to create skilled
jobs and shift passengers and freight off the roads
and on to rail, this Tory austerity by stealth, will
only serve to do the opposite.”
_________________________
Unison says Welsh Labour must democratise leadership contest by Peter Lazenby Friday, July 27, 2018
Labour’s biggest trade union affiliate in Wales is demanding that the party democratise the process of electing its Welsh leader.
At present, there are three blocks of voters in leadership elections – party members, affiliated trade union members and elected members of legislative bodies (the Westminster Parliament, the Welsh Assembly, and the European Parliament).
Each block of votes carries the same weight.
The Labour Party in Wales has around 25,000 individual members and 76,400 affiliated union members.
It has 58 legislators - 29 Welsh Assembly members, 28 MPs and one MEP - whose combined voice counts for one-third in leadership elections.
Unison says the voice of MPs, AMs and MEPs in a leadership election “is completely out of proportion,” compared with party and trade union members.
The union wants a 50-50 split between party members and union members, with legislators simply have one vote each.
Unison Cymru/Wales Labour Link chair, Dan Beard, said:
“We cannot support the disproportionate voting bloc of elected members continuing in its present form.
“The Labour Party is the fastest-growing political party in western Europe, and it’s time we agreed a more democratic method of electing our leaders.
“It’s vital unions retain a significant voice, when electing the leader and deputy leader of Welsh Labour.
“Unions helped establish the Labour Party at the beginning of the last century and we have supported it through some very difficult times.
"Our members help to keep the Labour Party’s feet on the ground, and in touch with its natural supporters.
“Reforming the electoral college will mean that, whoever becomes the new leader of Welsh Labour, will have a firm mandate from the members and trade unions --- to work together, to deliver the policies contained in the manifesto.”
A pioneering new report argues that thousands more engineering jobs could be created, by stopping the renewal of the Trident missiles system.
The report, Defence Diversification: International Learning for Trident Jobs, was published today by the Nuclear Education Trust. It examines various government and Civil Service initiatives in Britain, western Europe and the United States.
It argues that an internationally led programme to diversify the work of Trident’s workers, would cost far less than it would to renew the cold-war-era nuclear weapons system — estimated to be between £180 billion and £205bn over the next several decades.
The authors claim that further jobs — particularly in the skilled engineering sector — may be created by ditching Trident, and point to the decline in British arms industry employment, in which 263,000 jobs have vanished since 1980.
CND general secretary Kate Hudson said that the report demonstrates, from real-world examples, how the scrapping of unpopular projects such as Trident doesn’t have to mean the loss of high-skill employment.
“Far from it, in fact — if there is the political will to fully engage with defence diversification, far more high- skilled jobs can be created in the engineering sector,” she said.
Shadow minister for peace & disarmament Fabian Hamilton commented that while it is not Labour’s policy to get rid of Trident, “a defence diversification strategy would go hand in hand with Labour’s plan to invest in our economy.
“We do not lack the talent, we simply lack the funding.
“There is no denying that Trident is a major employer in some parts of the country, so proper funding must be made available so those in high-skilled work stay in high-skilled work.
“High-skilled jobs are good for our economy and, if we decide to transition away from Trident, defence diversification is the only way to ensure that the vital skills used in the development of Britain’s nuclear weapons, are not lost.”
The study argues that workers and local communities must be lead decision makers in diversification decisions related to nuclear weapons, and that serious government intervention - at every level - must be taken in their support.
Vatican calls for more regulation of markets, financial systems, condemns ‘economic cannibalism’ May 17th, at 10:52am
The Vatican called on Thursday for more regulation of markets and financial systems.
A major document says economic crises showed they were not able to govern themselves, and needed a strong injection of morality and ethics.
‘Considerations for an Ethical Discernment Regarding Some Aspects of the Present Economic-Financial System,’ jointly prepared by the doctrinal office and the department on human development, appeared to take aim at the plans to further de-regulate markets in some countries, such as the US, Reuters said.
The document attacked the “economic cannibalism” of some financial practices, saying profit for the sake of profit and not for the greater good, was “illegitimate.”
The Vatican condemned an “amoral culture of waste” that has created oligarchies in some countries, while leaving great masses of impoverished people “without any means of escape.”
The pronouncement is considered official teachings of the Catholic Church and could affect the attitude of the church’s 1.2 billion members.
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."
_____________________________________
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)
____________________________________________
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)
_______________________________________
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.)
_____________________________________________
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.
‘Appalling injustice’overturned as UK court clears names of Post Office workers wrongfully convicted due to faulty software
April 24th, 11:09am (RT)
Dozens of former Post Office workers have had
their convictions for theft and fraud thrown out
--- after an accounting system used in their
branches was later deemed faulty,
bringing partial closure to a
decades-old legal scandal.
Some 39 subpostmasters were cleared on Friday of
wrongdoing after being accused of stealing from
their offices. Their cases hinged on a soft- ware programme called Horizon.
The system, developed by the Japanese firm Fujitsu,
was used by the Post Office to keep track of trans-
actions and accounting. There was one problem:
the software had a bug, that caused accounting
errors, leading to hundreds of suspected cases
in which employees were accused of theft.
According to reports, some employees even used their
own money to try and correct the software’s account- ing errors, and avoid accusations of wrongdoing.
Between 2000 and 2014, the Post Office prosecuted 736
subpostmasters based on data outputted by Horizon.
Six other convictions were overturned back in
December. According to the BBC, the
miscarriage of justice is one of the
largest the UK has ever seen.
Shockingly, the Post Office “knew there were serious
issues about the reliability of Horizon” but didn't take
action, to investigate possible defects, concluded a
judgment issued by the Court of Appeal of the Royal
Courts of Justice in London. Instead of looking into
the matter, the Post Office consistently claimed that
Horizon was reliable, effectively “steamrolling” any
employee who challenged the software’s accuracy,
one of the presiding judges commented.
Many former employees who were slapped with criminal
charges due to Horizon’s bug went to prison or had their
lives ruined in other ways. One ex-employee spent nine
months in prison in 2007 after her Post Office branch
reported a shortfall of £59,000. The ordeal took her
away from her two children and “destroyed
everything.”
Another subpostmaster who was convicted of theft in
2008 and spent more than three years behind bars
denounced the Post Office as a “disgrace” and
demanded that the “bullies” responsible for
pressing the charges against ex-workers, such as himself, be held accountable.
Post Office chief executive Nick Read expressed his regret
over the episode, and said that the quashing of convictions
served as a “vital milestone” in correcting past wrongs by
his organisation, adding there should be compensation
for the victims that “reflects what has happened.”
In December 2019, the Post Office settled a civil claim
brought by 555 ex-employees for £57.75 million, but
did not admit liability.
Prime Minister Borish Johnson also weighed in,
describing the scandal “an appalling injustice
which has had a devastating impact on these
families for years.”
No one has yet been held accountable for the scandal. The
government launched an 'inquiry' into the matter last year,
but campaigners seeking justice say that the investigation
lacks teeth and suffers from a conflict of interest because
it is being carried out by the Department for Business,
Energy and Industrial Strategy, which runs the
Post Office.
Like this story? Share it with a friend!
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"
_________________________________________________
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.
__________________________________
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)
_____________________________
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
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
__________________________________
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.
_________________________________________
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.
______________________________________
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.
_________________________
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.
________________________________________
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.
____________________________________
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.
____________________________________
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
* * *
With 640,000 members - and a huge 200,00 joining in just 2 weeks- Labour was the largest left-wing party in Europe.
If you haven't done so already, join Labour, join Momentum, and let's rebuild #BuildOurMovement.
join.labour.org.uk
join.peoplesmomentum.com
_________________________________
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.
_______________________________
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.
_____________________________________
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.
______________________________
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).
________________________________
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.”
_______________________________________
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.”
Visit our new, interactive website
International Health Workers for People Over Profit
want to engage with you!
We've launched a new, interactive website
Our pages are open to all who share our goals for better social services, better working conditions and a healthier world for everyone.
Our Solidarity Page is dedicated to promoting causes & struggles intersecting with our own.
Our Debates page is open to discuss and clarify the way forward.
Our Upcoming Events page will feature timely events, anywhere in the world.
We are looking for useful information to post on our Resources page.
And, as before, all of our past newsletters are posted in the Newsletter Archives.
We invite you to comment on our newsletter, our articles, anything at all!
Please Use Us!
Send your submissions to
info@healthworkersinternational.org.
Please limit the length of each submission to 1 page or less, and include links and photos when possible. All submissions are moderated and may be edited for length and clarity.
==================================
International Health Workers for People Over Profit (IHWPOP) has joined the Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions Campaign against Israel.
We oppose Israel’s repression of the Palestinians and support a single state in Israel/Palestine with equal rights for all.
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.
