National News
Tories face defeat after shock by-election losses
by Svetlana Ekimenko, Sputnik
The Conservative Party of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing the dismal prospect of being defeated by Labour at the next general election after the opposition achieved two impressive by-election gains last week, polling pundits warn.
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On the Rails
by New Worker correspondent
The Transport and Salaries Staff Association (TSSA) recently elected a new General Secretary, Maryam Eslamdoust, in an election contest triggered by the discovery that her predecessor was not always a proper gentleman in the office.
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Ecclesiastical News
by New Worker correspondent
The cost-of-living crisis is affecting many hitherto comfortable people.
A recent survey by Unite has shown that it is even affecting the godliest workers in Britain. The union represents about 1,000 clergy and other workers in the Church of England (CoE) in a ‘Faith Workers’ Branch’ established in 1994. As the branch was formed largely to cater for clergymen opposed to women being ordained its members are rather less than revolutionary
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Defend Democratic Korea!
by New Worker correspondent
Despite bad weather the Korean Friendship Association (KFA UK) picketed the BBC HQ last weekend. London comrades and Korean solidarity campaigned protested at the ongoing bias of the BBC outside the heavily guarded Broadcasting House in central London.
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Scottish Political News
by our Scottish political affairs correspondent
The new Israeli offensive against the Palestinians, and in particular Sir Keir Starmer’s total backing for whatever Israel does, has resulted in in no less than 15 Labour officers in Scotland resigning over the recently imposed party rules about discussing events in Gaza. The centre of the revolt is Glasgow Kelvin. No less than nine officers of the constituency party have stood down from their positions. One of those is Baroness Pauline Bryan of Partick, whose ancient title dates back all the way to 2018. The chair Jim Mackechnie and sometime Morning Star contributor Vince Mills are among those leaving their posts in protest.
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International News
USA vetoes UN action on Gaza
by Elizabeth Borrego Rodriguez, Radio Havana Cuba
While the escalation of violence in Gaza seems to have no end, the eyes of the planet look today to the UN Security Council.
After almost two weeks of conflict and four meetings, the highest security body of the United Nations has not yet issued any draft resolution, despite warnings about the expansion of the conflict that began on 7th October.
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US paper fingers Ukrainians for Daria Dugina’s murder
by Andrei Dergalin, Sputnik
Over a year has passed since the assassination of Daria Dugina, a journalist and the daughter of the renowned Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin. Recently, a surprising admission about the culprits of this heinous crime was made by a US newspaper.
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Features
No-one asked the Palestinians
by Alejandro Kirk, teleSUR
Four days ago I arrived in El-Khiam – a Lebanese town bordering Israel, located halfway between Syria and the sea – as teleSUR’s special envoy. It is mountainous, like all of Lebanon, and the houses are scattered over a wide area. The streets in the old parts follow the Mediterranean pattern, winding and narrow
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Biden bids for war
by CJ Atkins, People’s World (USA)
Playing the part of classic Cold War warrior in his Thursday night Oval Office speech, President Joe Biden made a sales pitch for a permanent war economy, using democracy as a prop to convince the US people that he needed $105 billion to spend on weapons for Israel, Ukraine and – unmentioned in his remarks – Taiwan.
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Reflections of a Great Silk Road
by John Maryon
East–west trade routes were first established between Europe and China during the Han Dynasty in the second century BC. Columns of camels, ideally suited to the formidable terrain, carried silks, spices, tea, silver, gold, salt and sugar along the 4,350 mile road. Trading posts and markets were established that enabled trade between diverse cultures. The Silk Road remained in existence for over 1500 years, linking the civilisations of Europe and China.
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