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NOW PLAYING == #GreenSocialist Notes with Howie Hawkins, Episode 272 with special guest Andrew Kutapae, Secretary General of the Greens Party of Papua, New Guinea

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#news #uspol #GreenParty #leftist #revolution #left #green #socialist #anticapitalist #vsn #radio #HowieHawkins #DiverseSpectrumOfTheLeft #SupportIndependentMedia

Young Voters In Israel Shifting Right, Support For Netanyahu Confirmed Strong

In Israel, local surveys focused on the political preferences of voters showed that young voters are shifting towards the right of the political spectrum and support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is strong, according to a news report by The Jerusalem Post.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of The Jerusalem Post. Some parts in boldface…

Recent surveys have revealed surprising shifts in the political preferences and values of young Israeli voters, indicating a strong right-wing alignment.

According to a recent Maariv poll published this past week conducted by Lazar Research, led by Dr. Menahem Lazar in collaboration with Panel4All, a majority of first-time voters in Israel’s upcoming Knesset elections-young people between the ages of 18 and 22-identify as right-wing.

The survey finds that 56% of this age group considers itself right-wing, compared with 44% of Israelis aged 23 and older.

Among younger Israelis, 22% describe themselves as center-right, 14% as centrist (compared with 27% of older Israelis), and 8% identify as center-left or left-wing.

The poll also found that the preferred prime ministerial candidate among young voters is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, garnering 35% support, followed by former prime minister Naftali Bennett at 19%. Other candidates received considerably lower levels of support.

Post-October 7 identity – The survey also revealed that the events surrounding October 7, 2023, and their aftermath have had a profound impact on young people’s relationship with their faith and Jewish traditions.

More than half (57%) of respondents indicated that their sense or practice of religious faith has grown stronger since October 7, while 54% reported a heightened connection to Jewish tradition.

This surge in religious identification comes amid an overwhelming sense of pride in their Israeli identity. 68% of respondents expressed pride in being Israeli, with 46% calling Israel a “very good” place to live, and 36% labeling it a “good” place to live, culminating in a 79% overall satisfaction rate with life in Israel.

Breaking these sentiments down further, young Israelis aged 18-20 are the most proud to be Israeli, with 75% expressing strong national pride. Religious individuals also showed a higher level of national pride, with 85% affirming they were very proud to be Israeli.

Reserves Service – The survey also sheds light on Israel’s high military readiness, with 18% of young people having served in the reserves since October 7, 2023. Half of these reservists reported serving for several hundred days.

In response to potential future reserve duty, a significant majority, 64%, stated they would report without hesitation. Another 33% said they would do so out of necessity, while only 3% expressed uncertainty or a refusal to serve again.

For additional insight, watch the YouTube news video below.

https://youtu.be/97MFDNxC8B8?si=U52YVQgF__UcyTUg

https://youtu.be/Igg3UboDBnc?si=reG0FA24J42pu9wb

https://youtu.be/LCO-6OOjab8?si=CVXamjT4MjA9dqMa

https://www.youtube.com/live/qJiaFZSH7YY?si=zNAOGzrSCFLchmn1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAtU8GNEBRQ

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Israel will be able to destroy the remaining missile launchers of the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran while Prime Minister Netanyahu remains in power? Do you think the alliance with Trump’s America in the war against Iran is benefitting Netanyahu politically?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Israel Eliminates Iranian Ballistic Missile Unit Commander Makram Atimi

In a serious attempt to bring down the missile launch capability of the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran, Israel eliminated central Iranian ballistic missile unit commander Makram Atimi, according to news report by The Jerusalem Post. Meanwhile, the United States struck a major highway bridge between Tehran and Karaj which was to disrupt Iran’s supply route of missile and drone components.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of The Jerusalem Post. Some parts in boldface…

The IDF said Thursday it eliminated Makram Atimi, commander of a central Iranian ballistic missile unit, in a precise airstrike in the Kermanshah area.

The military said Atimi was responsible for dozens of missile launches toward Israel.

In a separate strike, the military said it also killed several battalion commanders from the same unit, which it said was behind repeated launches from northwestern Iran.

The IDF said the operations are part of an ongoing effort to degrade Iran’s missile capabilities and command structure.

US airstrike targets Tehran bridge to disrupt Iranian supply routes – Separately, a US airstrike on Thursday targeted a major highway bridge connecting Tehran to the nearby city of Karaj, with a source familiar with the details telling The Jerusalem Post that the strike was intended to disrupt Iranian supply routes used to transport missile and drone components.

The route was reportedly part of a logistical network moving critical parts to launch units responsible for attacks targeting US forces and Israel.

According to the source, the objective was to sever a central artery used to sustain Iran’s aerial and missile operations, highlighting a broader effort to degrade its operational capabilities.

For additional insight, watch the YouTube news videos below.

https://www.youtube.com/live/Mrk5kQwYSzs?si=8QPAoJ5CiB6LDCnZ

https://www.youtube.com/live/02nwUpxd5Zw?si=m_pkVWyDrr9r5L3A

https://youtu.be/0O86CwawsKU?si=gOgKGQhpdSA-EQRp

https://youtu.be/ExbqobjHm6g?si=-zkQOFerQFEkWVOi

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Iran’s capability of launching missiles throughout the Middle East will eventually stop? Who do you think is really leading the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran right now?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

The Details Behind US President Trump’s Primetime Speech

Since February 28, the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran has been heavily decimated by the joint US-Israel military operations. To date, almost all of Iran’s senior leadership were eliminated, their navy and air force have been devastated, their military/industrial/government sites have been struck, and their new so-called supreme leader could not even show himself physically to his people. While it is still able to launch missiles at different states in the Middle East, Iran has been weakened dramatically and its wicked regime is clearly down on its knees.

Since the beginning, it was made clear that the joint operations were to bring down the Islamic terrorist regime, disarm it and pave the way for the oppressed Iranians to take their country back. The Trump administration made it clear the operations won’t be a “forever war” nor would it follow what the administration of past US President George W. Bush did during and after the invasion of Iraq. US President Trump just delivered a primetime speech to give the public a clear view about the direction America is taking right now regarding the weakened Iran. Beyond the fighting, what happened has been shaping the future of the Middle East as we know it.

To begin with, posted below is the primetime speech of President Trump. Watch it entirely and pay attention closely.

https://www.youtube.com/live/OzhLRPZfOMQ?si=7P6W-ATCitH6kqNf&t=551

To put things in perspective, posted below is are details from Trump’s speech via the White House announcement. Some parts in boldface…

Here are the top moments from the address:

• “As we speak this evening, it has been just one month since the United States military began Operation Epic Fury targeting the world’s number one state sponsor of terror, Iran. In these past four weeks, our Armed Forces have delivered swift, decisive, overwhelming victories on the battlefield — victories like few people have ever seen before. Tonight, Iran’s navy is GONE. Their air force is in ruins. Their leaders, most of them — the terrorist regime they led — are now dead. Their command and control of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Core is being decimated as we speak. Their ability to launch missiles and drones is dramatically curtailed and their weapons, factories, and rocket launchers are being blown to pieces — very few of them left. Never in the history of warfare has an enemy suffered such clear and devastating large-scale losses in a matter of weeks.” (Watch)
• “From the very first day I announced my campaign for President in 2015, I have vowed that I would never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon. This fanatical regime has been chanting ‘Death to America, ‘Death to Israel,’ for 47 years. Their proxies were behind the murder of 241 Americans in the Marine Barracks bombing in Beirut, the slaughter of hundreds of our servicemembers with roadside bombs, they were involved in the attack on the U.S.S. Cole, and they’ve carried out countless other heinous acts… For these terrorists to have nuclear weapons would be an intolerable threat. The most violent and thuggish regime on earth would be free to carry out their campaigns of terror, coercion, conquest, and mass murder from behind a nuclear shield. I will never let that happen.” (Watch)
• “I did many things during my two terms in office to stop the quest for nuclear weapons by Iran… First, and perhaps most importantly, I killed General Qasem Soleimani in my first term… And then, very importantly, I terminated Barack Hussein Obama’s Iran Nuclear Deal… Essentially, I did what no other President was willing to do. They made mistakes and I am correcting them.” (Watch)
• “My first preference was always the path of diplomacy — yet, the regime continued their relentless quest for nuclear weapons and rejected every attempt at an agreement. For this reason, in June, I ordered a strike on Iran’s key nuclear facilities in Operation Midnight Hammer… The regime then sought to rebuild their nuclear program at a totally different location, making clear they had no intention of abandoning their pursuit of nuclear weapons… For years, everyone has said that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons — but in the end, those are just words if you’re not willing to take action when the time comes.” (Watch)
• “As I stated in my announcement of Operation Epic Fury, our objectives are very simple and clear. We are systematically dismantling the regime’s ability to threaten America or project power outside their borders… Our Armed Forces have been extraordinary. There’s ever been anything like it militarily — everyone is talking about it — and tonight, I am pleased to say that these core strategic objectives are nearing completion. As we celebrate this progress, we think especially of the 13 American warriors who have laid down their lives in this fight to prevent our children from ever having to face a nuclear Iran… Now, we must honor them by completing the mission for which they gave their lives.” (Watch)
• “Many Americans have been concerned to see the recent rise in gasoline prices here at home… This short-term increase has been entirely the result of the Iranian regime launching deranged terror attacks against commercial oil tankers and neighboring countries that have nothing to do with the conflict. This is yet more proof that Iran can never be trusted with nuclear weapons. They will use them and they will use them quickly. It would lead to decades of extortion, economic pain, and instability worse than we can ever imagine. The United States has never been better prepared economically to confront this threat.” (Watch)
• “To those countries that can’t get fuel — many of which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, we had to do it ourselves — I have a suggestion. Number one, buy oil from the United States of America; we have plenty. We have so much. And Number two, build up some delayed courage… Go to the Strait and just take it. Protect it. Use it for yourselves. Iran has been essentially decimated. The hard part is done.” (Watch)
• “I have made clear from the beginning of Operation Epic Fury that we will continue until our objectives are fully achieved. Thanks to the progress we’ve made, I can say tonight that we are on track to complete all of America’s military objectives shortly — very shortly. We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. We are going to bring them back to the stone ages where they belong. In the meantime, discussions are ongoing… We have all the cards; they have none.” (Watch)

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Which part of Trump’s speech did you find the most compelling or most interesting? Can you imagine the Middle East being free from the armed threat of Iran? Do you think the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran will get penalized by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other states for the Iranian missiles and drones that hit them? Do you feel confident that the price of oil will go down this month?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

I Love Israel: Further Israel-Philippines Cybersecurity Partnerships And Agreements Confirmed

Cybersecurity in the Philippines will be enhanced as further cybersecurity partnerships and agreements between Israel and the Philippines are underway, according to a news report by GMA News.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of GMA News. Some parts in boldface.

Israel is seeking to expand its cybersecurity presence in the Philippines, saying the latter is one of the most “attacked” countries in Southeast Asia.

“One of the sectors that we identified there as very relevant and important for relationships was definitely the cybersecurity sector. I think that the cybersecurity sector, when we talk about the Israel-Philippine relationship, enjoys both the demand from the Philippine side, because we are well known for very advanced, proven cybersecurity solutions,” Israeli Economic Counsellor Ofek Venecianer said at an event in Bonifacio Global City on Thursday.

She said further cybersecurity partnerships and agreements are now underway between Israel and the Philippines with the shared goal of improving the Philippines’ cybersecurity.

“I think this is a great momentum that we’re trying, of course, to leverage and bring to the table more players from the Philippines side and from the Israeli side as well,” she added.

Israeli Ambassador Dana Kursh said there was a need to improve the country’s knowledge, technologies, and capabilities due to technology’s high involvement in the war.

“Cybersecurity is a huge and grave threat because it can impact us easily… It is something that is relevant to this war and we can learn from it and we can exchange best practices to utilize. We can be either defensive or offensive,” she said.

“Cybersecurity is the next war. It’s the war today… I don’t want cyber security or any other innovative tool to be against someone. I want it to be for something. So, we have to find ways to think together and to prepare for not the next future, but the future is now to see how we protect our citizens, both from ballistic missiles and from hackers that want to make harm for us and for the next generation of us,” she added.

In February, the Philippine government said that it had already been making significant moves to further strengthen the country’s cyber landscape through partnerships with other countries like Japan and Canada.

In December, a group of cybersecurity professionals also made a call to the government to bolster the country’s cybersecurity framework.

They noted there were “long overdue” reforms needed to address vulnerabilities caused by “years of underinvestment, lack of coordination, and misplaced priorities.”

In a message to GMA News Online, the Department of Information and Technology (DICT) said that they continue working on strengthening the Philippines’ cybersecurity, which includes cooperation with countries like Israel.

“DICT and CICC continue to partner with the Israeli Government through their embassy to find better and more advanced tools and methods to combat cyber threats. Most specially after the Middle East crisis. No less than the President directed [the] DICT to ensure that the country has a strong cyber defense posture,” said DICT Secretary Henry Aguda.

To all my readers, I encourage you to pray to the Lord for even closer ties between Israel and the Philippines so that people of both nations can benefit greatly with one another. Israel is a world-leader in technology and cybersecurity, and the Philippines can achieve a lot of greatness with the Israelis as the strategic partner. Without enhanced cybersecurity, the Philippines will be vulnerable to hackers, thieves, scammers and terrorists from around the world.

At the same time, I encourage you all to realize the truth that Israel is the land God designated specifically for the Jewish people (read Genesis 35:10-12) and His command must be followed without hesitation. If you want to be blessed further by the Lord, do so by loving and blessing the Jewish people (Genesis 12:1-3). I did my part when I was in Israel. Also, let me remind you all that the ties between the Jews and Christians are truly biblical!

I encourage you all to pray to the Lord God in support of Israel, to love and bless the Jewish people, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

If you truly believe in Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God the Heavenly Father wholeheartedly and you continue to be faithful, you should be aware that Christians are meant to stand united with Israel and love the Jewish people no matter what. You can do your part supporting Israel by donating to Christians United for Israel (CUFI). Do not forget to read the Holy Bible, then pray in tongues to the Lord in the privacy of your room with the door shut.

Always be the fearless and aggressive church of Lord Jesus!

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

America Points At Corruption Anew As Barrier To Trade And Investment With The Philippines

While the Philippines continues to be active on attracting investments from around the world, it still has yet to wipe out the plague of corruption which remains a persistent challenge in the private and public sectors. That being said, the United States pointed to the corruption as a major barrier to trade and investment with the Philippines, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. This is not the first time America noticed Philippine corruption in relation to economics.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…

The United States (US) has once again flagged corruption as a major barrier to trade and investment with the Philippines, as recent efforts to clean up regulatory and judicial processes have failed to yield positive results.

In this year’s National Trade Estimate (NTE) report, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) said corruption continues to be a “pervasive and longstanding problem” in doing business in the Philippines. The report was released on Tuesday, March 31.

This year, unlike last year’s NTE report, the USTR specifies that corruption remains a persistent challenge in both the private and public sectors.

“National and local government agencies, for example the Bureau of Customs (BOC), are beset with various corruption issues, including allegations of overt bribery,” it said.

The USTR said attempts by the BOC to address customs and corruption concerns continue to fall short, as reports of corruption and irregularities in customs processing remain widespread.

In particular, US businesses are complaining about incidents of undue and costly delays, irregularities in the valuation process, exhaustive inspection and testing of some products, and inconsistent assessment of fees.

The USTR also called out the “lack of transparency in judicial and regulatory processes,” which ultimately undermines efforts to address corruption.

The agency is urging the Philippine government to deal with corruption once and for all, warning that it may impact trade and investment flows between the two longtime allies.

“If left unchecked, bribery and corruption can negate market access gained through trade negotiations, frustrate broader reforms and economic stabilization programs, and undermine the foundations of the international trading system,” the USTR said.

Despite the Philippines’ efforts to strengthen its intellectual property (IP) protection and enforcement, the USTR said the US remains dissatisfied with “inconsistent enforcement activities.”

“Stakeholders report issues with online piracy and sales of counterfeit goods, including apparel, shoes, watches, jewelry, perfume, and electronics,” it said.

Issues involving counterfeiting and piracy led to the continued inclusion of Greenhills Shopping Center in the 2025 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy, or the USTR’s Notorious Markets List, released last month.

The government’s efforts to combat issues involving IP rights are weakened by the slow prosecution and conviction of cases, the USTR said.

Further, the USTR said that the US has concerns about the Philippines’ laws regarding the protection of internationally recognized labor rights, as well as the enforcement of labor laws.

The USTR noted that the Philippines currently does not have a ban on the importation of goods produced with forced or compulsory labor, which earlier prompted the agency to investigate the country along with 59 other economies.

Meanwhile, the agency also raised its objections to the country’s persistent problem with wildlife trafficking, which undercuts regulated trade in wildlife products and may lead to the contamination of global supply chains that would ultimately reach US consumers.

Without sufficient measures in place, the USTR said these market-distorting practices may weaken the trading relationship between the US and the Philippines.

“The Philippines has not entered into an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade with the US that includes commitments to address these distortions,” it said.

Philippine imports to the US, minus some exemptions, are subject to a 10-percent global tariff. This is lower than the 19-percent tariff imposed on such goods during the second half of last year.

Unlike countries that have negotiated tariff deals with the US, the Philippines remains at the whim of US President Donald Trump and his ever-unpredictable global trade agenda.

With the 2025 NTE report essentially shaping Trump’s tariff scheme last year, the USTR said the new 2026 report is no different, as it seeks to outline the US’ aim to rectify what it considers unfair trade practices of its trading partners.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the government of the Philippines consistently fell short on wiping out corruption and improving the many processes? Is the Philippines the least transparent nation in Southeast Asia when it comes to international trade and foreign investments? Do you think the deep corruption of the Philippines will become a major campaign issue in the 2028 Presidential, National and Local elections? Do you think the Philippines’ hosting of the ASEAN Summit will make Filipinos complete forget about corruption?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco