Day: August 19, 2022

Upcoming online event: Free the Kononovich Brothers! Free all Ukrainian Political Prisoners!

Ms. Cat

7pm British Summer Time, Thursday 25 August. Access details will be circulated closer to the date.

Please register for the event here on Eventbrite, and the zoom link will be emailed to you on the day of the event.

Speakers from the UK, US and Ukraine.

Mikhail and Alexander Kononovich, members of of the youth wing of the Communist Party of Ukraine (CPU), were arrested by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on 7th March 2022, and tortured in a Kiev detention centre. The SBU, Ukraine’s intelligence agency, has charged them with being “propagandists” and aiming to “destabilise” the internal situation in Ukraine.

Upcoming online event 8/25/2022: Free the Kononovich Brothers! Free all Ukrainian Political Prisoners!

The Washington Post Admitted That Zelensky Lied, People Died, And Ukrainians Are Upset

Ms. Cat

Had Zelensky leveled with his people months ago and told them about what was about to happen, then the horrors that millions of them experienced – including at the direct hand of their own government – could have been avoided.

The Washington Post Admitted That Zelensky Lied, People Died, And Ukrainians Are Upset

Related:

Ukraine’s Zelensky faces unprecedented criticism over war warnings

“If we had communicated that . . . then I would have been losing $7 billion a month since last October, and at the moment when the Russians did attack, they would have taken us in three days,” Zelensky said.

He told Biden to chill out because it was hurting his economy!

Historic ‘Border Agreement’ Meeting Held to Discuss Renewal of Venezuela–Colombia Diplomatic Relations

Ms. Cat

This Thursday, August 18, the second day of the “Border Agreement” meeting was held, an event attended by Venezuelan and Colombian authorities, and businesspeople who seek to reach agreements for the commercial reopening between Venezuela and Colombia.

Historic ‘Border Agreement’ Meeting Held to Discuss Renewal of Venezuela–Colombia Diplomatic Relations

Venezuela Stops Oil Shipments To Europe As Alternatives To Russian Energy Dry Up

Ms. Cat

The writing is on the wall for Europe in terms of this coming winter – It’s going to get ugly. With natural gas imports from Russia cut by 80% through Nord Stream 1 along with the majority of oil shipments, the EU is going to be scrambling for whatever fuel sources they can find to supply electricity and heating through the coming winter. Two sources that were originally suggested as alternatives were Iran and Venezuela.

Venezuela Stops Oil Shipments To Europe As Alternatives To Russian Energy Dry Up

Related:

Venezuela: Oil Production Declines as Shipments to Europe Suspended

Caracas’ oil operations were affected by mechanical disruptions caused by alleged attacks against oil facilities. On July 16 a natural gas pipeline explosion and a power outage interrupted PDVSA’s supply to its main crude production and export hub, the José Antonio Anzoátegui industrial complex in eastern Venezuela.

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With the operational disruption depleting Venezuela’s lightest oil grade stocks, Iran recently began to increase its supply of 29.5°API blend, a lighter alternative to Venezuela’s 16°API Merey, in order to boost fuel production and free domestic upgraded blends for exports.

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However, anonymous sources revealed that Caracas might suspend crude cargoes to Europe while the industry recovers from recent setbacks. PDVSA is reportedly negotiating the terms of the oil-for-debt agreements with Eni and Repsol to receive fuel while still settling long-standing debts owed to the two companies.

Neither Venezuela’s Oil Ministry nor PDVSA has issued statements confirming the alleged halted shipments to Europe or the renegotiation of the swap deals.

Europe Looks To Reduce Dependence On China’s Critical Minerals

Ms. Cat

Europe Looks To Reduce Dependence On China’s Critical Minerals

China is the dominant player on the markets for the materials used in solar panels, batteries, and magnets. European countries have recently ramped up efforts to establish local supply chains and diversify imports away from one dominant supplier, especially if this supplier is Russian ally China.

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According to the European Commission, China provides 98% of the EU’s supply of rare earth elements (REE).

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China could reduce exports of critical materials, as authorities said in the latest five-year plan that the country would cut overseas shipments to meet the rise in demand domestically, Deutsche Welle noted earlier this year.

Germany’s economy, Europe’s biggest, became more dependent on China during the first half of 2022, according to a study by the German Economic Institute (IW) seen by Reuters.