The salary is tripled in Venezuela: Increases to 6 dollars

Nicolás Maduro ordered an increase of 300% of the minimum wage on Monday, the 26th time he makes an announcement of this kind during his term. Also, an increase in the petro cryptocurrency was decreed and the president highlighted the economic management of his government, which he said in his annual report helped to turn Venezuela into the country with “greater socioeconomic equality”.

The salary adjustment went from 4,500 to 18,000 sovereign bolivars per month. The salary that will come into effect on Tuesday is equivalent to six dollars on the black market and economic analysts says that it will lose its value in a few days.

The announcement was made with his annual management report and a government program (2019-2025) in the National Constituent Assembly (ANC), an exclusive parliament of the ruling party, where Maduro went to be ratified as president after his controversial oath before the Supreme Court of Justice on January 10.

The new economic decree announced by Maduro is part of 26 attempts during his government, the last six in a year, to try to stop the economic depression suffered by the Caribbean country.

Such announcements tend to fuel hyperinflation and arouse national discontent. Among the economic decrees of 2018, Maduro announced several wages increases and eliminated five zeros to the national currency, without success in the attempt to alleviate the economic crisis

The National Assembly, with an opposition majority, calculated that accumulated inflation rose to 1,698.488% last year. Never before has the country experienced these dysfunctions.

“The monetization of the fiscal deficit continues, hyperinflation continues to gain strength. The nominal wage increases will not solve the structural problems of the economy in the country,” economist Jesus Casique told El Nacional.

“We passed the test,” the president said during his speech. Since, according to Maduro, extreme poverty decreased from 4.4% to 4.3% in 2018 and Venezuela became a country with greater socioeconomic equality during his Government. In a four-hour speech he praised his administration and promised to improve the economy ahead of his new term in office.

However, the National Survey of Living Conditions, drawn up by three universities, indicates that extreme poverty grew by 61% in 2017. The study seems plausible when the current minimum wage is appreciated, equivalent to the price of 1.5 kilograms of chicken.

http://en.mercopress.com/2019/01/15/the-salary-is-tripled-in-venezuela-increases-to-6-dollars?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_content=main&utm_campaign=rss

Moscow won’t re-engage with Council of Europe until voting rights restored – Russian speaker

Published time: 15 Jan, 2019 10:52

FILE PHOTO. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in session. Picture taken with fisheye lens. ©REUTERS / Vincent Kessler

Moscow’s position on its participation in the work of the Council of Europe remains unchanged – no re-engagement until its voting right is restored, the Russian parliament speaker told his visiting Finnish counterpart.

On Tuesday, Vyacheslav Volodin is hosting Paula Risikko during the official’s visit to Russia. Moscow’s continued absence from the work of the Council of Europe, the 47-member-strong rights body, topped the discussion. The Russian speaker said that, while Moscow values being part of the council and its various bodies, it won’t re-engage with it as long as discrimination against Russia there continues.

“We don’t require any special status for Russia. We insist on one thing, that all 47 member nations should be equal, as it is stated in the founding charter of the Council of Europe,” Volodin told Risikko.

Russia was stripped of its voting rights in the council and its parliamentary body PACE in 2014 in response to the political crisis in Ukraine, and Russia’s acceptance of Ukraine’s breakaway region of Crimea. Moscow responded by suspending its participation in all events of the council. Since 2017, Russia has suspended its contribution to the council’s budget, saying the money will be transferred after Russia’s voting rights are restored in full and the rules are changed to prevent similar discrimination against any member in future.

The Russian Parliament is expected to review the situation later this week, but since no changes were made on the council’s side, legislators will recommend a continued freeze in relations, Volodin indicated.

We believe it to be impossible to work in a PACE, which endorses solving issues in this way, which fears hearing a dissenting opinion and giving a right vote… This approach is anathema to all the democratic principles that a parliamentary body should be based on.

Speaking to his Finnish guest, the Russian speaker said the difference of opinion about what happened in Ukraine in 2013-2014 will remain a stumbling block for Russia’s relations with other European nations.

“We believe a common understating has to be formed… Once we all acknowledge that there was an armed coup in Ukraine, an armed takeover of power, many issues and approaches will change and everything will fall in its place,” he said.

The so-called Maidan mass protest in Ukraine escalated into violent clashes, which resulted in the ouster of Ukraine’s elected president. The new authorities in Kiev and their foreign backers consider those events a “revolution of dignity,” a justified and genuine public uprising against a corrupt leader. Russia sees it as an orchestrated coup, in which a small group of politicians used the support of violent right-wing gangs to seize power, with Western nations turning a blind eye to any atrocities committed in the process.

wow Field McConnel just said the world is operation on the chinese money system gold & silver…. I guess this is how Trump will collapse the fed …. maybe

His video is from the 14th less than 24 hours ago

>>4762205

the US just got out from under the crown…. thanks to President Trump, everyone assumed we were but nope.

Still waiting for the paperwork …. Kek

So really it is the "Governor General" that runs the country on behalf of the crown. Trudeau who swears allegiance to the crown not canadians or canada, answers through the Governor General of Canada

I heard Babe Ruth was executed, that (he) she had in fact been taken to Gitmo within days of Christmas, one among the first

This is probably all over the board but I just picked up the news a few hours ago

IS THIS TRUE??? 😁

I'm going to tweet to Diane Feinstein and ask her how her trip to china was, her flight home?

>>4762070

Especially knowing how hypocritical they are…. I can't respect authority unless they earn it and I've never hidden my disdain for them if they are aholes.

I'm poor now but I stood for what I believe and that's far more important to me.

People in North and South America, a large part of Europe and Africa may get a glimpse of a total lunar eclipse overnight from January 20 to 21, the last such event until 2022.

For those in Europe and Africa, the total eclipse will unfold shortly before sunrise.

For those in North and South America, the eclipse can be viewed at the beginning or in the middle of the night.

The full moon will be in the Earth's shadow from 03:34 GMT (06:34 EAT) to 06:51 GMT (09:51 EAT).

When the eclipse begins, a shadow will move in from the left, as if taking a bite out of the moon.

The total eclipse will last about an hour, beginning at 04:41 GMT, according to NASA.

During the eclipse, the moon will still be visible, but in a shade of red.

That's why a lunar eclipse is often called a "blood moon."

The red colour is due to the same phenomenon that causes sunsets to appear pink, orange or red.

"A little bit of sunlight is refracted by the Earth's atmosphere and reaches the moon, bending around the edges of the Earth," explained Walter Freeman, an assistant teaching professor at Syracuse University's physics department.

"This small amount of red light still illuminates the moon enough for us to see it. Instead of being bright and white, the moon will be very dim and red, 10,000 or so times dimmer than usual."

Although total lunar eclipses happen, on average, about one to three times per year, after this one there will be a gap of three years until another is visible.

"It's the last chance for a little while to see a total lunar eclipse," said Bruce Betts, chief scientist at The Planetary Society.

The next total eclipse will be visible from Europe on May 16, 2022.

Some partial lunar eclipses will happen in the meantime.

Total eclipses happen only when the Earth moves precisely between the sun and moon.

Cloudy weather can interfere with viewing, but experts say that unlike in the case of a solar eclipse, there is no need for special eyewear to step outside and view a lunar eclipse.

That's because the moon does not produce light of its own, but only reflects the sun's light.

"The moon is never bright enough to hurt our eyes like the sun is," said Freeman.

"A blood moon is one of the few opportunities we have to see both the moon and the stars in the sky at the same time, since the moon is usually too bright."

https://www.nation.co.ke/lifestyle/health/Total-lunar-eclipse/1954202-4935660-r6n50yz/index.html

SPAIN POLICE

Police in Spain's Catalonia launch operation against alleged terror cell

efe-epaBarcelona15 Jan 2019

Catalan regional security forces early Tuesday launched an anti-terror operation against suspected members of a terror cell that was allegedly preparing a series of attacks and arrested one person, according to sources close to the investigation.

Catalonia's regional police force, the Mossos d'Esquadra, was expecting to make additional arrests as part of the ongoing operation taking place in the cities of Barcelona and Igualada on court orders.

https://www.efe.com/efe/english/world/police-in-spain-s-catalonia-launch-operation-against-alleged-terror-cell/50000262-3867425?utm_source=wwwefecom&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss

Germany detains man suspected of spying for Iran

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BERLIN — Jan 15, 2019, 6:30 AM ET

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Prosecutors in Germany say an army employee has been detained on suspicion of spying for the Iranian intelligence service.

The federal prosecutor's office said in a statement that the 50-year-old German-Afghan dual citizen, whose name was only given as Abdul Hamid S. in line with German privacy rules, was detained Tuesday in the Rhineland in western Germany.

He worked as a translator for the German army and is accused of having passed on information to the Iranian intelligence service.

The German defense ministry confirmed the allegations but declined to give any further details.

German news site Spiegel Online reported that the suspect spied on the army for years and had access to highly classified material including the German troops' mission in Afghanistan.

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/germany-detains-man-suspected-spying-iran-60385118

Russian Politics & Diplomacy World Business & Economy Military & Defense Emergencies Science & Space Society & Culture Sport Press Review/News Feed

Russian PM comments on French protests and need to reform social welfare system

Russian Politics & Diplomacy January 15, 14:26 UTC+3

Most countries are facing common issues, Medvedev pointed out

MOSCOW, January 15. /TASS/. Large-scale protests in France point to a need to upgrade social welfare systems as soon as possible in accordance with the reality of the digital era, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said, addressing a plenary meeting of the Gaidar Forum on Tuesday.

READ ALSO

Over 20 injured during Yellow Vests protests in France — interior ministry

"Most countries are facing common issues, which concern ways to ensure the rights of those who are being left out of the social welfare system in the wake of technological progress. Another question is what will become of this system and how it should be upgraded?" Medvedev said. "

"Complicated social processes and mass protests in European countries - particularly, in France - show that there is a need to find answers to these questions as soon as possible," he added.

"Undoubtedly, these matters are relevant for our country as well," Medvedev said.

http://tass.com/politics/1039979

>>4761910

this is probably dumb but I;m tired…..

11:25

55 25

55/11=5

25/5=5

5:5

Trump Family Learns Vet’s Trump 2020 Flag Vandalized, Send Him Massive Basket of Gifts

As much as the left likes to virtue signal about how tolerant they are, the facts show otherwise. In yet another case of their “tolerance,” political intimidation has been used to attack and threaten a Trump-supporting family in Vermont.

Among the things done to this family, their “Trump 2020” flag was removed, burned, and left on their porch. When the family of President Donald Trump found out, they were quick to respond.

WCAX originally covered the story of how Burlington, Vermont resident and veteran Gus Klein was targeted. After their story ran and went viral, more harassment occurred. The family got death threats and a Trump bumper sticker was ripped off Klein’s vehicle.

TRENDING: Texas Cowboy Hands Special Gift to President Trump, ‘You Can Give It to Your Son, Barron’

Gus explained, “I hear on the other end (of the phone) some expletives, profanity, I guess, with the letter F. ‘F you Trump fan, I’m going to kill you.'” He added, “I don’t know what gives people the right that they feel they can get in your own personal property and do something.”

The Kleins were excited about the Trump family response, but time passed and no replacement showed up. After a follow-up call to the family, in which the Kleins explained they never got the replacement, things changed.

The very next day the family got their replacement flag. But that was not all. They got a treasure trove of related goodies, including a MAGA hat signed by both President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.

The Kleins were thrilled. Gus said, “I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe it. So this is going to be like a family heirloom.”

Gus’ wife, Ann-Marie Klein, kept a positive attitude, despite the harassment. “I still have faith in people and Vermonters letting us fly our flag freely without any issues or problems.”

Gus said that the harassment had left him feeling “fired me up a little more.” He noted that the intimidation tactics had not worked.

Until the replacement arrived, the Kleins flew the burned flag. Once it arrived, they planned on holding a special, public ceremony to raise the new flag and celebrate.

WCAX wrote that “Republicans like Anya Tynio who ran against Rep. Peter Welch for Congress and Lawrence Zupan who ran against Sen. Bernie Sanders plan to attend. There will be a bagpipe entrance as the Kleins raise the flag.”

RELATED: NBC Host Turns Against Bernie Sanders: ‘If You Can’t Manage a Campaign, How Do You Manage the Country?’

In an update to the story, WCAX noted that the ceremony did take place. They reported that public officials from across the state were in attendance.

During the flag raising celebration, some people drove by and yelled at those in attendance. One vehicle was covered with anti-Trump messaging. That car’s driver was given a verbal warning by the police.

As for Klein, he is undeterred by the critics. “The feeling of pride. I have never been prouder to have an event like this in the city of Burlington, Vermont.”

“It was excitement. It kind of gives the man goose pimples ya know cold chills to know that we have the rights as American citizens to do what we want.”

The teens who burned his flag, the people phoning the family with threats, the others harassing the Kleins may think their actions mean they have won. But ultimately, this veteran got the last laugh.

https://www.westernjournal.com/ct/trump-family-learns-vets-trump-2020-flag-vandalized-send-gifts/?utm_source=push&utm_medium=westernjournalism&utm_content=2019-01-14&utm_campaign=manualpost