alanjjohnstone
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Cuba continues its free-market reforms
It has legalised small and medium-sized private businesses in the wake of protests last month. Under the new rules, enterprises with up to 100 employees will be allowed.
US Central Command has announced the results of its forensic investigation into last week’s fatal drone attack on a merchant tanker off Oman.
It says explosives experts concluded that the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) was produced in Iran. The evidence has been shared with explosives experts in Britain and Israel who concurred with the findings. (but not made public)
For information on struggles in Iran:
https://kolektiva.media/videos/w/ca47c069-ead6-4b41-ae68-791ad53386a8
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises people to “leave now by commercial means because of the worsening security situation”, adding: “The level of consular assistance the British embassy can provide in Afghanistan is extremely limited, including in a crisis. Do not rely on the FCDO being able to evacuate you from Afghanistan in an emergency. Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Afghanistan. Specific methods of attack are evolving and increasing in sophistication. You should note an overall increased threat to western interests in Kabul. Follow the instructions of local authorities. There is a high threat of kidnapping throughout the country.”
I agree that it is an excellent work.
Is it possible that the Party could do a 2nd edition?
ALB can write a new foreword or introduction
Or have we copyrighted snags?
Many members individual ventures are now difficult to acquire. Surely the Party’s Publications committee could investigate to arrange for their re-appearance.
Just a thought
Another useful essay in Weekly Worker on the workers’ movement back in 1978
https://www.weeklyworker.co.uk/worker/1359/the-imam-the-strikers-and-the-black-black-oil/
US state department spokesman Ned Price told reporters: “We urge Iran to return to the negotiations soon so that we can seek to conclude our work.”
“Our message to President Raisi is the same as our message to his predecessors… the US will defend and advance our national security interests and those of our partners. We hope that Iran seizes the opportunity now to advance diplomatic solutions,” he said.
But he added: “This process cannot go on indefinitely.”
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-58109087
I believe Iran’s earlier diplomatic position was that if the USA enters into an agreement it should honour it.
By coincidence, I just watched a documentary on the American German Bund.
As the war in Europe approached, so as not to provoke the USA, Germany ceased all its funding of it and forbade its citizens from joining it.
Emulating Trump’s “America First” policy Biden rebuffs WHO calls for a moratorium on vaccine boosters to the already fully vaccinated.
Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz has said the country’s military is ready to take action against Iran, calling it “a global and regional problem”.
Israel has “hard evidence” that Iran was behind the attack on the tanker, Mercer Street, without offering details.
Gantz also said that Israel is ready to engage in a “multi-front” conflict that might include Iran.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/5/with-tensions-high-gantz-says-israel-is-ready-to-strike-iran
Meanwhile, Iran’s new president Raisi says “I extend a hand of friendship and brotherhood to all countries, especially those in the region,” and he promised that Iran’s nuclear programme is strictly peaceful and nuclear weapons “have no place in the country’s defence strategy”.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/5/irans-raisi-sends-message-of-strength-in-inauguration
Taiwan’s foreign ministry expressed “sincere gratitude” to the US State Department for 155 millimeter M109A6 medium self-propelled Howitzer artillery systems in a deal valued at up to $750 million (Є634 million)
https://www.dw.com/en/taiwan-thanks-us-for-howitzer-artillery-systems/a-58762694
Mobile artillery enables Taiwan to direct fire at incoming troop ships and shell landing beaches.
Ilhan Omar is set to introduce legislation on Friday that would establish a guaranteed income program.
The SUPPORT Act “would first create a $2.5 billion grant program to fund local pilots in guaranteed income. These would run in hundreds of communities across the country from 2023 to 2027 and provide findings for a national program. The national guaranteed income program would start in 2028, sending $1,200 per month to adults making up to $75,000 per year, or heads of household making up to $112,500 per year, as well as providing $600 monthly per child. The payments would phase out for higher incomes.”
jam tomorrow and means tested.
I’m sure many are fed up being told that Biden is just as bad or even worse than Trump
The number of detainees is nearly 27,000 as of July 22, compred to the 22,000 detained last July under Trump
Silky Shah, executive director of Detention Watch Network, which advocates for ending immigration detention outright. “…his policies so far haven’t matched his campaign rhetoric.”
Biden has proposed funding for 32,500 immigrant detention beds in his budget, a modest decrease from 34,000 funded by Trump.
John Lewis, an employee-owned partnership, often praised by proponents of co-ops found to be paying staff below the legal minimum wage.
They dispute it, calling it a technicality
“Our average minimum hourly pay has never been below the national minimum wage and is currently 15% above it.”
Even if true, I find hovering just above the minimum wage-level not a good defence
