#U.N. Resolution against US Embargo of Cuba

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Discovery of Lone U.S. Response to U.N.’s Latest Condemnation of the U.S. Embargo of Cuba      

Previous posts provided details about the U.N. General Assembly’s October 30, 2024, overwhelming adoption of  a resolution condemning the U.S. embargo of Cuba, including the brief remarks at that session  of U.S. Deputy Ambassador Paul Folmsbee, as well as some criticisms of that resolution.[1] This blogger unexpectedly found what appears to be the only official U.S. comments on that U.N..…

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By Jessica Corbett / Common Dreams

The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday once again overwhelmingly urged the U.S. government to end its decadeslong blockade on Cuba, with just the United States and Israel voting against the measure and Moldova abstaining.

The UNGA’s other 187 members present voted to adopt the nonbinding resolution on “the necessity of ending the economic, commercial, and financial embargo imposed by the United States” against the Caribbean island.

This is the 32nd straight year that the U.N. body has approved a resolution against the embargo that began in 1962.

“The U.S. and Israel stand isolated as the only two votes against,” Democratic Socialists of America’s International Committee said after the Wednesday vote. “The world has spoken—it’s time for the U.S. to listen and lift the blockade.”

Though a few other nations have opposed the resolution over the years, Michael Galant of Progressive International and the Center for Economic and Policy Research noted that this vote was “two genocidaires v. the world.”

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Friday, November 1, 2024

Canada prepares for U.S. election that ‘keeps people up at night’ (Washington Post) Canada survived Donald Trump’s first term—but it wasn’t easy. He tore up the North American Free Trade Agreement, setting off a bruising renegotiation. He imposed tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, prompting retaliation. He hurled insults at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, calling him “very dishonest and weak.” He injected friction into a relationship known for its closeness. Canadian opinion of the United States, by far Canada’s largest trading partner, plunged. A Harris victory in next week’s razor-tight presidential election would offer a U.S. leader with whom Canada has not struggled to find common ground. She lived in Canada for five years as a teen and graduated from high school in Montreal. But the possible return of the intemperate former president to the White House, coupled with rising protectionism on both sides of the U.S. political aisle—which will remain a key issue whichever side wins—has Ottawa dispatching top officials across the United States in a bid to stave off policies that could jeopardize Canadian interests. The U.S. election “keeps a lot of people up at night,” said Canadian Sen. Peter M. Boehm.

Could ‘adult dorms’ save city downtowns? (The Week) American cities have two big problems these days: Too much empty office space and not enough affordable housing. There may be a solution. Those empty offices could be converted to “micro-apartments”—“ultracompact rentals about the size of a cruise ship cabin,” said The Minnesota Star Tribune. A study from urban planners said a typical micro-apartment in Minneapolis would rent for about $750 a month, “about half the cost of a typical rental” in the city’s downtown. But they would definitely be micro, about 150 square feet. Each apartment would have room for a bed, desk and half-sized refrigerator. Living room, kitchen and laundry areas would be communal shared spaces. These would be “tiny, tiny, apartments,” Andrea Riquier said at USA Today. They could serve young adults, older people and even the homeless. Most importantly, it would let developers add housing to a “market at the most affordable price point.”

UN General Assembly condemns the US economic embargo of Cuba for a 32nd year (AP) The U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to condemn the American economic embargo of Cuba for a 32nd year. The vote in the 193-member world body was 187-2, with only the United States and Israel against the resolution, and one abstention. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez blamed the U.S. government’s “maximum pressure policy” aimed at depriving Cuba of the imported fuel it relies on for a widespread blackout this month, including when Hurricane Oscar lashed the island.

8 of 11 members of Mexico’s Supreme Court to resign in protest of controversial judicial overhaul (AP) Eight justices of Mexico’s Supreme Court have said they will leave the court rather than stand for election as required by a controversial judicial overhaul passed last month. Supreme Court President Norma Piña and seven others submitted letters Tuesday and Wednesday stating they would leave their posts rather than compete in judicial elections scheduled for next June. Last month, Mexico’s Congress passed—and a majority of states ratified—then-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s initiative to make all of the country’s judges subject to election. López Obrador and his allies, including his successor Claudia Sheinbaum, have said the radical change will help rid the judicial system of corruption. However, critics say the courts will become less independent and more subject to political forces.

Argentina’s public universities are paralyzed by protests (AP) After 11 months in office, Argentina’s President Javier Milei has fulfilled his flagship pledge to eliminate the country’s monumental deficits by shrinking the public payroll, slashing subsidies and suppressing already low wages of state workers. The austerity has spawned misery. But with the country’s left-wing opposition in disarray after delivering the economic disaster that Milei inherited, Argentina hasn’t seen the kind of widespread social unrest that has characterized past economic crises. That could change. The country’s teachers are fed up. Milei’s recent veto of a bill boosting spending on university budgets struck a collective nerve in a nation that long has considered free education a right, drawing the broadest demonstrations since the libertarian leader took office. Last week’s open-air classes held in Plaza de Mayo, the main square home to government headquarters, marked the latest in a new wave of protests supporting public universities that has gripped Argentina over the past month. Students are taking over college campuses in the coming days ahead of another mass protest.

European countries, trailing U.S. economy, hike taxes and trim spending (Washington Post) Europe is facing tight times, with the governments of the largest economies—Britain, France and Germany—confronting sluggish growth and soaring debt as they struggle to produce their budgets for next year. On a day of more good news about the sturdy growth of the U.S. economy, the outlook across the Atlantic was gloomier. Britain’s Labour Party government unveiled its long-awaited fiscal plan Wednesday, proposing to raise $52 billion in new taxes—the biggest increase in a generation. That comes after the new French government this month revealed austerity plans. The French economy got a bit of an Olympic boost, but the country is grappling with what the government has called a “colossal” debt burden and a spiraling deficit, one of Europe’s worst. And Germany learned Wednesday that it had narrowly avoided a recession, but the country that has been the economic engine of Europe is experiencing anemic growth—and facing budget cuts as a result.

Russia fines Google more than the world's entire GDP (NBC News) Google may need to consider a payment plan for the latest allegations against it. On Wednesday, Russia fined the company $20,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000—a sum worth more than the world’s entire GDP put together. The 37-digit figure, otherwise known as 2 undecillion rubles, aims to punish Google for blocking content from 17 Russian TV stations and media outlets on YouTube, which Google owns. But even the Kremlin on Thursday admitted that the fine is more of a symbolic gesture than one expected to be paid off. Phew.

Russian propaganda is increasingly targeting Switzerland (NZZ/Switzerland) For decades, Russia has used disinformation as a way of skewing debates in the world’s free democracies, creating a constant background noise in the public discourse. Switzerland has been less affected than many other countries, but now the noise is getting louder in this country too. An analysis of the Russian propaganda platform Russia Today shows the scale of the change. In late January 2024, RT’s German-language website introduced a separate section focusing specifically on Switzerland. Since then, RT has increased its reporting on Switzerland by a factor of 10. Roman Horbyk, a media researcher at the University of Zurich, says an information war is currently underway. The content of these RT articles follows classic Russian disinformation strategies. They portray a dismal picture of the country, in which it is apparently quite normal for foreigners to stab children, refugees to defraud the state, and the government to act arbitrarily and corruptly. However, 0ne of the most frequent topics is the war in Ukraine. The reports often center on Ukrainian refugees, typically in a disparaging and distorted way. For example, in mid-October, one article carried the headline: “‘Gorge yourself, you freeloader!’ Dissatisfaction with Ukrainian refugees grows in Switzerland.” In addition, Swiss banks, the army and Switzerland’s neutrality policy often come off badly.

Russian drones hunt civilians in streets of southern Ukrainian city (Washington Post) Russian forces have escalated indiscriminate drone attacks against civilians in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, killing and maiming scores of people in what locals have described as a “human safari.” Unlike elsewhere on the 600-mile-long front, Russian forces in Kherson are just across the river from the city and are using small drones to harass the population, either by crashing into targets and exploding or by dropping grenades and small camouflaged mines. The situation is fairly unique compared with the rest of Ukraine, where Russian troops must use longer-range weapons to reach civilians. Humanitarian operations and city services such as fire trucks and buses seem to be under particular threat, officials said, though children on bicycles and older people gathering at markets have also been struck.

The 21st century space race (BBC) China’s Shenzou 19 spacecraft has successfully docked at the Tiangong space station, the latest feat in a record year of space exploration for the country. The three-person crew will use their six months in orbit to conduct experiments and carry out spacewalks as part of Beijing’s mission to put someone on the Moon by 2030. Yet some see China’s ambition as a threat. Nasa chief Bill Nelson has said the US and China are “in a race” to return to the Moon, where he fears Beijing wants to stake territorial claims. The Moon’s resources include rare earths, the value of which has been estimated to be anywhere between billions to quadrillions of dollars. In Dongfeng Space City, a town built to support the launch site, China’s space programme is celebrated. Every street light is adorned with the national flag, cartoon-like astronaut figurines and sculptures sit in the centre of children’s parks and plastic rockets are a centrepiece on most traffic roundabouts. This is a moment of national pride. But even though China has invited international press to witness their space progress—there are key restrictions. We were kept in a hotel three hours from the launch site and a simple trip to a friendly local restaurant was carefully guarded by a line of security personnel. We also noticed a large sign in town holding a stern warning: “You’ll be jailed if you leak secrets. You’ll be happy if you keep secrets. You’ll be shot if you sell secrets.” China is taking no chances with its new technology, as its rivalry with the US is no longer just here on Earth.

Typhoon Kong-rey makes landfall in Taiwan (Foreign Policy) Typhoon Kong-rey made landfall in Taiwan on Thursday, bringing fierce winds reaching the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane. It is the most powerful storm to hit the island in nearly 30 years. Already, at least one person was killed and more than 200 injured. Local authorities urged residents to stay home, and Taipei has put 36,000 troops on standby to assist rescue efforts. More than 11,900 people across 14 cities and counties have been evacuated, according to Taiwan’s Interior Ministry. Taiwan Power has reported power outages in half a million households, authorities closed Taiwan’s financial markets and schools, and hundreds of flights were canceled due to high winds.

Israel Widens Hezbollah Strikes, Hitting Lebanese Cities Beyond Border Area (NYT) The Israeli military widened its campaign against the militant group Hezbollah on Wednesday, launching airstrikes around the eastern Lebanese city of Baalbek and forcing large numbers of people to flee. Israel’s strikes against Hezbollah, initially focused on smaller, border villages in the south, are expanding beyond the country’s periphery to port towns and urban centers where the group has supporters, including Baalbek, Tyre and Sidon. Famed for its towering Roman ruins, Baalbek, which had a population of about 80,000 people, had largely been spared Israeli bombardment until recent days. “People are panicking,” said Ibrahim Bayan, a mayoral deputy in Baalbek, adding that about a dozen strikes had landed in or around the city since Israel issued its evacuation warnings on Wednesday. The Israeli military said it struck fuel depots belonging to Hezbollah, stocked with fuel supplied by Iran.

Uganda struggles to feed more than 1.7 million refugees as international support dwindles (AP) For months, Agnes Bulaba, a Congolese refugee in Uganda, has had to get by without the food rations she once depended on. Her children scavenge among local communities for whatever they can find to eat. “As a woman who’s not married, life is hard,” Bulaba told The Associated Press. Some locals “keep throwing stones at us, but we just want to feed our kids and buy them some clothes,” said the mother of six, who often works as a prostitute to fend for her family. Uganda is home to more than 1.7 million refugees, the largest refugee-hosting country in Africa, according to the United Nations refugee agency. Despite being renowned for welcoming those fleeing neighboring violence, Ugandan officials and humanitarians say dwindling international support coupled with high numbers of refugees have put much pressure on host communities. Approximately 10,000 new arrivals enter Uganda each month, according to U.N. figures.

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Nearly All U.N. Members Condemn U.S. Embargo on Cuba

Summary:

In a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly last week, delegates overwhelmingly voted to condemn the United States' continued trade embargo on Cuba, with one holdout being the representative from Israel. The resolution to condemn America's sanctions against Cuba has been brought to the U.N. every year for the past thirty years, gaining more support this year than it ever has. Cuban foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez spoke of the "cruel" toll the embargo has taken on Cuba's economy: over $6 billion since President Biden assumed office, and insurmountably more since it was first instituted in 1960. While President Obama attempted to ease tensions between the U.S. and Cuba, predecessors Trump and Biden have reversed those efforts by enforcing further sanctions. Biden has justified the latest sanctions as a condemnation of Cuba's police response to protests last year, which evolved into violent anti-government protests. But Cuba's UN ambassador Yuri Gala believes, as do most UN members, that "if the United States government really did care for [...] human rights and self-determination of the Cuban people, it could lift the embargo," (Gala, "Only one country backs US in UN Cuba vote").

Analysis:

America's embargo on Cuba is a relic of the Cold War and its efforts to prop up governments around the world that favor capitalism and liberalism – many of which have failed. Most notably, the U.S. provided financial and military support to the regime of dictator Fulgencio Batista in the post-World War II era. Batista was severely authoritarian, but his economic policies allowed the U.S. to benefit from trade with Cuba, and he led a prominent campaign against "Communist activities." America's support for Batista despite his corrupt leadership, and its subsequent hostility towards a Castro-led Cuba, demonstrates the realist theory that states will ultimately abandon principles in favor of self-interest. U.S. foreign policy regarding Cuba prioritized the relative gains of its own power over the idealist approach of cultural consistency. If America truly were a staunch proponent of democracy, it would have condemned Batista's authoritarian abuses and use of secret police forces. But to American officials, creating a capitalist global economy was more advantageous than opposing Batista's anti-democratic dictatorship. Put in terms of the prisoner's dilemma, America chose to confess, not cooperate.

Fidel Castro as a popular leader championing socialist ideals posed an ideological threat to the U.S. in its efforts to emerge as the capitalist global hegemon. It lended legitimacy to the ideals of the Soviet Union, America's opponent in the Cold War and the other end of the bipolar global power structure. While the U.S. enjoyed hegemon status after the Soviet Union fell, growing opposition to the U.S. trade sanctions against Cuba reflect a shift towards a more multipolar power distribution. As nations like China, India, and Russia gain influence, so too do ideologies counter to American and western ideals; socialism and anti-capitalist sentiments are increasingly popular around the world. The U.N.'s near-unanimous vote against America's actions symbolizes a new balance of power that challenges U.S. supremacy on the global stage.

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China Backs Cuba in Saying US Should Apply Sanctions to Itself

— Tom O’Connor | 26 July, 2021 | Newsweek | Anti-Empire

Labor Day, Havana, 2018

China has supported Cuba’s argument that the United States should consider applying sanctions to itself for alleged human rights abuses before taking on other countries.

Speaking Friday at a press conference in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian asserted that his country “firmly supports the efforts of the Cuban government and people to maintain social stability” as President Joe Biden doubles down to pressure Cuba in the wake of historic protests in the island nation.

The latest measures, unveiled Thursday, included sanctions against the head of the Cuban armed forces and a division of the Interior Ministry in response to their suspected roles in cracking down on the demonstrations. The U.S. leader warned that “this is just the beginning” and that “the United States will continue to sanction individuals responsible for oppression of the Cuban people.”

Zhao lashed out against the approach the following day.

“We resolutely reject any external interference in other countries’ internal affairs, imposition of unilateral sanctions, and attempt to gang up on other countries under the pretext of ‘freedom,’ ‘democracy’ and ‘human rights,'” Zhao said.

And he referenced earlier remarks on Twitter by Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez, who dismissed the “unfounded & slanderous US gov. sanctions” and suggested that the country “should rather apply unto itself the Magnitsky Global Act for systematic repression & police brutality that took the lives of 1021 persons in 2020.”

The legislation has been used by the White House to roll out restrictions on finances and travel for individuals accused of corruption and human rights abuses. But Zhao said it was Washington that fit this bill.

“The U.S. should first and foremost examine its own human rights issues,” Zhao said, “instead of wielding the big stick of sanctions, grossly interfering in other’s internal affairs and creating division or confrontation.”

He then issued a plea for Washington to remove its decades-long trade embargo on Havana.

“China maintains that mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation are the right way to conduct state-to-state relations,” Zhao said. “At present, Cuba is at a critical moment in its fight against COVID-19 and in its efforts to alleviate people’s suffering. The U.S. must immediately and completely lift unilateral sanctions against Cuba in compliance with the purposes of the U.N. Charter and basic norms governing international relations, and do more to improve U.S.-Cuba relations and contribute to international and regional stability.”

— Source: Newsweek

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UN Calls for End to US Embargo on Cuba, US Urges Amendment Over Human Rights Concerns

UN Calls for End to US Embargo on Cuba, US Urges Amendment Over Human Rights Concerns

The United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted its 27th annual resolution calling for an end to the U.S. economic embargo on Cuba after a failed bid by Washington to amend the text to push Cuba to improve its human rights record.

The U.N. vote can carry political weight, but only the U.S. Congress can lift the more than 50-year-old embargo. The United States and Israel voted against…

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https://ift.tt/2JiIrHT US to counter UN vote on Cuba embargo with amendments calling out human rights abuses The Trump administration next week will counter a U.N. resolution condemning its embargo against Cuba with a series of amendments calling out the communist regime’s human rights record, Fox News has learned -- the latest example of the U.S. going on the offense at the world body.

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Trump Administration Defends Cuba Embargo at U.N., Reversing Obama

In his article titled “Trump Administration Defends Cuba Embargo at U.N., Reversing Obama,” Rick Gladstone writes about the new turn of events in the international relations between the US and Cuba. According to the author, the US has objected to the annual UNGA resolution which deplores the trade embargos placed on Cuba by the US. The decision by the Trump administration to toughen the embargos against Cuba is a different approach and attitude from that which his predecessor, Barack Obama, had taken towards Cuba.

The sour relations between the US and Cuba dates back to 1962 when the US imposed trade sanctions on Cuba following a decision by the then Cuban President Fidel Castro to confiscate and domesticate properties or assets belonging to American companies. However, the decision by the US seems to have isolated it from the rest of the members of the UN General Assembly who think it is a high time the embargos were lifted so that normal international relations between the two nations may resume. According to the author, those who oppose the continued imposition of embargos and sanctions on Cub argue that the  ostracization of Cuba by the Americans for decades now has not worked and hence the need to lift the ban on trade with Cuba.

From this article, it is evident that the renewed tensions between Washington and Havana may harm both the US and Cuba in terms of international relations. Moreover, it does not augur well for international politics since it represents political differences between the leadership of Cuba and the USA. International relations as a field or branch of political science mainly entails how nations relate to each other. From the article, it is clear that there are not much of good or warm relations between the US and Cuba. The strained relations could have serious impacts on both countries in terms of trade and politics. For instance, with the continued sanctions against Cuba, the country is likely to be isolated from the US and the rest of the world thus adversely affecting its economy. Further, the US is likely to be affected in that it will continue to lose the economic opportunities that its companies could get from Cuba.

Moreover, from the article, it is clear from an international relations perspective that the US foreign policy in relation to Cuba and many other countries will continue to change depending on who is the President. Whereas the former President Obama took a totally different approach or attitude towards Cuba, President Trump is taking a negative attitude towards the country. This means that future administrations are also likely to take different actions on Cuba. The flip-flopping of American foreign policy and international relations is not good as it may undermine efforts to end the old and discredited cold war mind wars between the US and other nations.

One of the reasons the US imposed the trade embargos on Cuba was to compel the leadership of the country to promote democracy and uphold or protect human rights. Up to now, Cuba has made tremendous strides towards ensuring that basic freedoms and rights such as the right to vote in a democratic election are respected. Hence, it is no longer justified for the US to continue imposing the economic sanctions on Cuba. As Gladstone notes,  the continued imposition of the sanctions only serves to further isolate the US at the world stage and hence the need for the US to reconsider its position on the relations with Cuba (Online).  

The economic opportunities that are lost as a result of the sanctions are not only hurting Cubans but also Americans because of restricted and limited trade between the two countries. Even though the American Ambassador to the UN, Nikki R. Haley, has said that the US is not bothered by the isolation both at the UN and at any other level, the truth is that these meaningless and misguided sanctions will serve to further isolate the US more and hurt its economy. It is also a dent on the image of the US  from an international relations standpoint as it portrays it as a nation that does not promote positive interactions with other countries.

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http://ift.tt/HDXIyB UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday adopted a resolution calling for an end to the U.S. economic embargo on Cuba, with the United States voting against it after abstaining last year for the first time in 25 years.

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US votes against UN resolution condemning US embargo on Cuba

The United States has voted against a U.N. resolution condemning America's economic embargo against Cuba, reversing last year's abstention by the Obama administration and reflecting worsening U.S.-Cuban relations. from FOX News http://ift.tt/2zoMlgi via non lethal self defense products for sale

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via Reuters: World News

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Thursday, June 24, 2021

World’s most expensive cities for expats in 2021 revealed (CNN) Ashgabat in Turkmenistan is the most expensive city in the world for overseas workers, according to this year’s Mercer Cost of Living Survey. The annual report ranks 209 cities based on the comparative cost of expenses including housing, transportation, food and entertainment, with New York City used as a baseline comparison. The Turkmenistan capital, which was number two on last year’s list, is something of an outlier in the top 10, which mostly features business hubs like Hong Kong (last year’s priciest city and this year’s second priciest), Tokyo (number four for 2021), Zurich (number five for 2021) and Singapore (number seven for 2021). Perhaps the biggest change from last year’s Mercer survey sees Beirut rising from the 45th most expensive city for international workers in 2020 to the third priciest for 2021. Mercer puts this development down to Lebanon’s economic depression, which was exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Port of Beirut explosion in August last year. Meanwhile, as the Euro gained almost 11% against the US dollar, European cities were ranked comparatively more expensive than their US counterparts. This led to New York City dropping out of the Mercer top 10 altogether, while Paris climbed the rankings from number 50 in 2020 to number 33 in 2021.

Pressure builds to open U.S.-Canada border (Washington Post) A Florida man takes out ads to call out the U.S. and Canadian governments for failing to lift border restrictions. Lawmakers use salty-ish language. Business owners worry about losing a second lucrative summer season. As restrictions on nonessential travel across the U.S.-Canada land border enter their 16th month this week, pressure is rising on both sides for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Biden to crack it open—even a little—or to provide something, anything, about what a reopening plan might look like. Ottawa on Monday did announce some changes at the border, to start July 5. They’d allow Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are fully inoculated with a Health Canada-authorized vaccine, and who test negative for covid-19 before and after arrival, to bypass some quarantine and testing requirements. But the announcement means most fully vaccinated foreigners, including Americans, who hope to enter Canada for nonessential purposes are out of luck. And a growing number of lawmakers, residents and business groups on both sides of the world’s longest undefended border are out of patience.

GOP filibuster blocks Democrats’ big voting rights bill (AP) The Democrats’ sweeping attempt to rewrite U.S. election and voting law suffered a major setback in the Senate Tuesday, blocked by a filibuster wall of Republican opposition to what would be the largest overhaul of the electoral system in a generation. The vote leaves the Democrats with no clear path forward, though President Joe Biden declared, “This fight is far from over.” The bill, known as the For the People Act, would touch on virtually every aspect of how elections are conducted, striking down hurdles to voting that advocates view as the Civil Rights fight of the era, while also curbing the influence of money in politics and limiting partisan influence over the drawing of congressional districts. But many in the GOP say the measure represents instead a breathtaking federal infringement on states’ authority to conduct their own elections without fraud—and is meant to ultimately benefit Democrats. The rejection forces Democrats to reckon with what comes next for their top legislative priority in a narrowly divided Senate.

The Cuba embargo (Foreign Policy) The U.N. General Assembly is expected to vote to condemn the U.S. economic embargo on Cuba, in a resumption of what has become an annual tradition at the body following a pandemic-related pause in 2020. Up until last year, the assembly had overwhelmingly voted to admonish the United States over the embargo each year since 1992. The United States and Israel tend to be the only two nations to reject the resolution, although Brazil joined them in 2019. The vote coincides with increased U.S. support for a temporary suspension of the embargo during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a recent poll showing 66 percent of Americans surveyed supporting a suspension in order for Cuba to export its home-grown vaccines. On Monday, Cuba announced that its Abdala vaccine—one of several vaccine candidates—was roughly 92 percent effective at preventing COVID-19 infection.

France’s Macron Pushes Controls on Religion to Pressure Mosques (WSJ) President Emmanuel Macron is redrawing the line that separates religion and state, in a battle to force Islamic organizations into the mold of French secularism. In recent months, his administration has ousted the leadership of a mosque after temporarily closing it and poring over its finances. Another mosque gave up millions in subsidies after the government pressured local officials over the funding. A dozen other mosques have faced orders to close temporarily for safety or fire-code violations. The government has taken these actions as a precursor to a much broader push to rein in the independence of mosques and other religious organizations across France. Mr. Macron has submitted a bill to Parliament, called the Law Reinforcing Respect of the Principles of the Republic, that would empower the government to permanently close houses of worship and dissolve religious organizations, without court order, if it finds that any of their members are provoking violence or inciting hatred. In addition, the bill would allow temporary closure of any religious group that spreads ideas that incite hatred or violence. Religious organizations would have to obtain government permits every five years to continue operating, and have their accounts certified annually if they receive foreign funding.

Can pandemic recovery plan end Italy’s years of stagnation? (AP) The COVID-19 pandemic hit Italy especially hard, killing more than 127,000 people and sending the European Union’s third-largest economy into a devastating tailspin. Yet out of that tragedy may come solutions for decades-old problems that have held back growth and productivity—and with them, a new sense of stability for the euro, the currency shared by 19 of the European Union’s 27 members. Backed by 261 billion euros from the EU and Italian government, the country’s plan for recovering from the pandemic calls for a top-to-bottom shakeup of a major industrial economy long hampered by red tape, political reluctance to change, and bureaucratic and educational inertia. The challenge is formidable: Italy has failed to show robust growth in the more than two decades since it joined the euro currency union in 1999. Execution of the recovery plan remains a risk given Italy’s often-fractious politics. But “if they succeed with even half, it will have a big impact,” said Guntram Wolff, director of the Bruegel think tank in Brussels.

Militias in Afghanistan’s north are taking up the fight against the Taliban (Washington Post) A sweeping Taliban offensive across northern Afghanistan, unchecked by overstretched government forces, has triggered a sudden resurgence of anti-Taliban militias in half a dozen provinces, raising concerns that the country could plunge into a prolonged civil war. President Ashraf Ghani has endorsed the sudden call to arms by former ethnic rival groups. The Ghani government hopes the added support will shore up the beleaguered national defense forces, which have struggled to send reinforcements and supplies to troops facing repeated Taliban attacks. But the prospect of unleashing a hodgepodge of rogue warriors to repel their old enemies also raises the specter of civil war, a state of violent anarchy that Afghans remember all too well from the 1990s. And although the armed groups have pledged to coordinate with government forces, it is also possible that effort could unravel into confused, competing clashes among purported allies. In the past several days, fighting has been reported in nine provinces across the north, and armed militias or civilian groups have formed to repel the insurgents, often fighting alongside state forces. All are loyal to local leaders from minority Tajik, Uzbek or other ethnic groups that have no love for Ghani, a member of the dominant ethnic Pashtun group based in southern Afghanistan.

China prepares for Communist Party centenary in secret (AP) Chinese authorities have closed Beijing’s central Tiananmen Square to the public, eight days ahead of a major celebration being planned to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Communist Party. The square, which normally attracts tourists from around the country, was barricaded Wednesday and will remain closed until July 2. The party will showcase the country’s rise from civil war and disastrous political campaigns in the early years of communist rule to market reforms that have created the world’s second largest economy, with a superpower status rivaled only by the United States. Old habits die hard, however, and arrangements for the July 1 anniversary remain shrouded in secrecy. Around Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City former palace complex and other scenic sites are also closed. Flyovers by air force squadrons suggest an aerial review is in the planning, but authorities have yet to release details. The ruling party was established in secrecy in 1921, following the collapse of the Qing dynasty in 1912. It held its first session at a girl’s school in Shanghai, and later moved to a lake boat to evade agents of the local warlord.

Apple Daily Shuts Down (Foreign Policy) On Wednesday, crowds of Hong Kong residents gathered in support outside the headquarters of Apple Daily, one of the last bastions of media resistance to Beijing, as it sent its final edition to print. The paper announced it would close after the arrests of senior leadership this week under the draconian national security law introduced last year. Banks froze the newspaper’s assets to avoid being charged themselves. The rollout of the national security law has seen successive groups targeted: first protest leaders, then democratic politicians, and now journalists. More than 800 Apple Daily staff have lost their jobs while Hong Kong has lost its long-cherished freedom of speech. But the impact of the closure goes far beyond journalism in Hong Kong. Each move like this raises the stakes for other sectors, especially academia and entertainment. Any challenge to the government has become a risk, making self-censorship even more likely. This kind of sweeping coercion has long been the norm on the mainland; in Hong Kong, it provides more proof China has shattered its promise to maintain “One Country, Two Systems” until 2047.

Tokyo shapes up to be No-Fun Olympics (AP) The Tokyo Olympics, already delayed by the pandemic, are not looking like much fun: Not for athletes. Not for fans. And not for the Japanese public. They are caught between concerns about the coronavirus at a time when few are vaccinated on one side and politicians who hope to save face by holding the games and the International Olympic Committee with billions of dollars on the line on the other. Japan is famous for running on consensus. But the decision to proceed with the Olympics—and this week to permit some fans, if only locals—has shredded it. The official cost of the Tokyo Olympics is $15.4 billion, but government audits suggest it’s twice that. All but $6.7 billion is public money. The IOC chips in only about $1.5 billion to the overall cost. The pressure to hold the games is largely financial for the Switzerland-based IOC, a nonprofit but highly commercial body that earns 91% of its income from broadcast rights and sponsorship.

World Powers Gather for Libya Conference (Foreign Policy) World powers gather today in Berlin to discuss a path forward for Libya, ten years after a NATO-led coalition helped oust former leader Muammar al-Qaddafi and eight months since warring factions agreed to a cease-fire in the country’s six-year civil war. The group of countries last met in January 2020. Since then, the October cease-fire has been followed by the selection in February of a transitional government. Today’s discussion will focus on the next steps in Libya’s transition, including preparations for elections in December and the removal of foreign fighters still active in the country. According to United Nations estimates, more than 20,000 foreign fighters and mercenaries from Syria, Russia, Sudan, and Chad remain in Libya. Although today’s meeting is a time to improve on positive developments, Libya is still far from a functioning state. Nearly 20 percent of the population is in need of humanitarian assistance, and the country remains a magnet for human traffickers as they move desperate migrants across the Mediterranean and into Europe.

Witnesses say airstrike in Ethiopia's Tigray kills dozens (AP) An airstrike hit a busy market in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray village of Togoga on Tuesday, according to health workers who said soldiers blocked medical teams from traveling to the scene. Dozens of people were killed, they and a former resident said, citing witnesses. Two doctors and a nurse in Tigray’s regional capital, Mekele, told The Associated Press they were unable to confirm how many people were killed, but one doctor said health workers at the scene reported “more than 80 civilian deaths.” The health workers spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation. The alleged airstrike comes amid some of the fiercest fighting in the Tigray region since the conflict began in November as Ethiopian forces supported by those from neighboring Eritrea pursue Tigray’s former leaders.

No laundry day in space (AP) On the International Space Station, there is no such thing as laundry day. Right now, an astronaut needs about 150 pounds of clothes in space per year, and will wear their clothes—gym, underwear, all of it—until they cannot stand the smell, and then throw the clothes away, ejecting the shirts to eventually burn up in the atmosphere. A new study, a collaboration between NASA and Procter & Gamble Co., will attempt to find a good way to clean clothes in space.

[tomaszhalka]

via Reuters: Top News

[cubaverdad]

Trump: New policy on Cuba begins with enforcement of U.S. law

Trump: New policy on Cuba begins with enforcement of U.S. law BY MIMI WHITEFIELD mwhitefield@miamiherald.com The new Cuba policy announced by President Donald Trump makes it clear the president will be looking to the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act of 1996 — also known as the Helms-Burton Act — in forging his new take on Cuba. "Our new policy begins with strictly enforcing U.S. law," Trump said Friday during a Miami appearance to announce a policy that bans most U.S. business dealings with the Cuban military and puts some limits on travel. "We will enforce the embargo." Former President Barack Obama seemed more intent on what he could legally do on Cuba policy despite the Helms -Burton Act, which among other things sets strict conditions that must be met by Cuba before the U.S. embargo against the island can be lifted. Before he left office, Obama urged Congress to change the law to lift the embargo In his memo on the new policy, Trump expressed support for the embargo, including opposing any measures at the United Nations or other international institutions calling for the end of the embargo, which has been in effect for more than half a century. In a signal of Obama's desire to repair the United States' fractured relationship with Cuba, the U.S. abstained for the first time in October 2016 on the annual U.N. General Assembly vote condemning the embargo. Before, the United States always voted against the U.N. resolution. In his last month in office, Obama also suspended a section of the Helms-Burton Act that allows former owners of commercial properties expropriated by Cuba to sue foreign companies trafficking in those confiscated holdings. Every U.S. president has routinely suspended the lawsuit provision every six months since Helms-Burton went into effect for fear of letting the lawsuits go forward. The suits would alienate important trading partners such as Canada and EU countries whose citizens have invested in Cuba. It's unclear if Trump will continue the practice. Put forward in the super-heated atmosphere after Cuba shot down two Brothers to the Rescue planes, resulting in the deaths of four South Florida pilots, the 42-page Helms-Burton bill was signed into law in 1996 by President Bill Clinton. Previously it was up to presidential discretion whether to lift the embargo, but Helms-Burton set up a range of conditions that must be satisfied before the embargo can be lifted. It sets a high bar for Cuba. Among the conditions a transition government in Cuba must meet are: legalization of all political activity; release of all political prisoners; dissolution of the present Department of State Security — including the Committees for Defense of the Revolution; a public commitment to organize free and fair elections for a new government that will be held in a period not to exceed 18 months; stopping any interference with Radio or TV Martí broadcasts; and establishment of an independent judiciary and independent trade unions. And any new government cannot include Raúl Castro or Fidel Castro, now a moot point. In addition, civil liberties must be respected, private property rights must be assured and steps must be taken to compensate U.S. citizens and corporations for properties seized by the Cuban government after the 1959 Cuban Revolution. During Congressional testimony last week, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the administration was in support of continued economic development in Cuba "as long as it's done in full compliance with our existing statutes to not provide financial support to the regime." Pressed by Sen. Tom Udall, a Democrat from New Mexico, about whether that could hamper development of private businesses in Cuba "if they give a single dime to the government," Tillerson responded: "Senator, I know you're not suggesting that we encourage private companies to violate the law, but it does require perhaps a more thorough discussion among the Congress and the executive [branch] over is that law still useful. But the law is there and we cannot encourage people to violate that law." In May, a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers introduced legislation to lift the embargo. A bill to lift all restrictions on travel to Cuba, and one that would remove restrictions on private financing of agricultural exports to Cuba and impose a 2 percent tax to compensate those who have certified claims for seized properties also have been introduced. If Congress were to pass any of that legislation, said South Florida lawyer Pedro Freyre, it would supercede any executive order by the president on Cuba. Follow Mimi Whitefield on Twitter: @HeraldMimi Source: Trump says it's time to uphold the law on Cuba | Miami Herald - http://ift.tt/2tzismn via Blogger http://ift.tt/2sF2BX2

[newstfionline]

Headlines

Russia Imposes Financial Sanctions on Ukraine’s Political Elite (Reuters) Russia imposed sweeping financial sanctions on Ukraine’s political elite on Thursday, freezing the Russian assets of hundreds of politicians and dozens of businesses owned by major Ukrainian businessmen.

Australia to Help PNG Build a Navy Base to Fend Off China (Reuters) Australia is to help Papua New Guinea develop a navy base and train police, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday, the latest Australian action to protect its interests in the Pacific in the face of a more assertive China.

Afghan Forces Struggle to Regain Ground as Casualties Mount: Report (Reuters) The Afghan government is struggling to recover control of districts lost to Taliban insurgents while casualties among security forces have reached record levels, a U.S. watchdog agency said on Thursday.

Black Box From Crashed Indonesian Jet Retrieved From Debris on Sea Floor (Reuters) Indonesian divers on Thursday retrieved a black box from a Lion Air passenger jet that crashed into the shallow sea off the coast of the capital, Jakarta, killing all 189 people onboard.

PDVSA Ex-Executive Admits Taking Bribes in Guilty Plea in U.S. Court (Reuters) A former finance executive of Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA accepted $17 million in bribes as part of a broad embezzlement scheme, U.S. federal prosecutors said on Wednesday, in a case that implicates a French oil firm and a Russian bank.

Mexico Supreme Court Says Ban on Recreational Marijuana Unconstitutional (Reuters) Mexico’s Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that an absolute ban on recreational use of marijuana was unconstitutional, effectively leaving it to lawmakers to regulate consumption of the drug.

China Birth Rate Set to Continue Decline This Year: China Daily (Reuters) China’s birth rate is set to decline further this year as well as over the next few years, despite the country’s 2016 move to relax its controversial “one-child policy”, the China Daily newspaper said on Thursday, citing population experts.

Yemeni Rebels Seek Pressure on Saudis as US Calls for Truce (AP) A leading Yemeni rebel figure says the Trump administration’s calls for a cease-fire in his country are “positive” but urged more international action to stop deadly airstrikes by the U.S.-backed Saudi-led coalition.

Christian Woman Acquitted in Pakistan to Leave Country (AP) A Christian woman acquitted in Pakistan after eight years on death row for blasphemy plans to leave the country, her family said Thursday as radical Islamists mounted rallies for a second day against the verdict, blocking roads and burning tires in protest.

Cuba Gets Support Before UN Votes on Embargo, US Amendments (AP) Diplomats representing more than 135 countries spoke against the American economic embargo of Cuba ahead of votes Thursday on a U.N. resolution condemning the policy and proposed U.S. amendments criticizing the lack of freedom of expression and other human rights in Cuba.

Japan Resumes Work at Disputed Site for US Base Relocation (AP) Japan’s central government resumed work at a disputed U.S. military base relocation site on Thursday even though Okinawa residents see the project as an undemocratic imposition on the small southern island.

Former Peruvian First Daughter Detained in Corruption Probe (AP) Former Peruvian first daughter Keiko Fujimori was ordered back to jail Wednesday in a case that has captured attention in the South American nation reeling from a series of corruption scandals reaching into the highest echelons of power.

[gogreeninplixcomsucksthingsstuff]

via Reuters: World News