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Venezuela responds to Trump's new threats

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has responded to the latest threats to Venezuela's sovereignty from US President Donald Trump, in which the US leader promised "swift and strong actions" if Venezuela decides to proceed with the July 30 elections for a National Constituent Assembly.

Maduro called Trump's threats "vulgar", TeleSUR English reported. He said: "The process of the constituent assembly is already in the hands of the people who will exercise their right to vote. This is my response, the constituent assembly does not belong to me.

Life on the scrap heap in the Philippines

RACHEL EVANS and RAY FULCHER visited the Philippines for three weeks in April. Here they describe, in words and pictures, life in Payatas, the largest active rubbish dump in Manila. The infamous Smoky Mountain proved too much of an embarrassment

DSS delegates reject agency bargain

By Ray Fulcher MELBOURNE — An agency bargaining deal between the Department of Social Security and the Public Sector Union will not go ahead following a decision by the PSU National Delegates Committee (NDC) to withdraw from discussions and

News briefs

MELBOURNE — Under legislation which took effect on June 2, Victorian police now have the power to demand name and address of anyone. Police can also take fingerprints and body samples without having to apply to a magistrate first. The Federation of

Fundamentalist war against Algerian women

Thirty women have been murdered in Algeria in the last few months for not wearing the veil. Other women have been raped or abducted. These crimes followed the circulation of a leaflet by Islamic fundamentalists stating that any woman not wearing

World Environment Day

World Environment Day, June 5, was marked by marches, rallies, and festivals in Australia's major cities. Nationally more than 1000 young people, including large numbers of high school students, mobilised to highlight their concerns, both global and

Life of Riley: Riley Inc

Riley Inc By Dave Riley Are you concerned about social issues and corporate ethics? Are you looking for financially sound investments that are socially responsible? Then look no further. Now you can integrate your personal values with your

Baraka

Baraka Baraka A film by Ron Fricke Reviewed by Andrea Carroll "Baraka" is an ancient Sufi word meaning a blessing or the breath/essence of life. Through a series of stunning images, the film explores the theme of the essential unity of

East Timor: Manila conference defies ban

By Max Lane MANILA, June 3 — For the last week a battle has raged here in the Philippines capital for the right to hold the Asia Pacific Conference on East Timor, despite systematic attempts by the Ramos government to prevent it happening and

Taking the knife to ASIO

Australia's Spies and Their Secrets By David McKnight Allen & Unwin, 1994. 350 pp., $24.95 (pb) Reviewed by Phil Shannon David McKnight takes the knife to the boil of Australia's secret police in his history of ASIO. In a very detailed and

Sanctuary victory: 'beginning of the end for whaling'

By Tom Kelly The declaration of a whale sanctuary in the Southern Ocean is a " major victory", says Greenpeace whale campaigner Robbie Kelman. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) approved the creation of the sanctuary, which excludes

Chernobyl: problems worse than imagined

By Irina Glushchenko and Renfrey Clarke MOSCOW — Every spring since the Chernobyl catastrophe in April 1986, the Russian press has returned to history's worst nuclear disaster. In the first years, the articles focused on the heroism of the