25 years since the Soviets abandoned Afghanistan

http://rt.com/news/soviet-us-afghanistan-anniversary-130/

An interesting article on Russia Today about the anniversary of this neglected (in the West) conflict. Some interesting statistics and a general absence of pro-Russia jingoism.

As usual however do not, for the love of Pete, go near the comment section.

Europe approaches Cuba while USA sulks

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-26198379

"Earlier this week, the European Union agreed to open negotiations aimed at restoring full relations with Cuba."

Well done to the EU - an overwhelmingly sensible bit of international diplomacy. Now if only the USA could forget their humiliating cock up at the Bay of Pigs and follow suit.

Who's afraid of the Union-man?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26005919

Ridiculous fear mongering by the media over this move to formalise joint membership of a union and the Labour party.

How can a move to involve ordinary people in politics be a bad thing? By making it up to the individual whether they want to opt in for joint voting privileges, the influence of those terrifying Union 'bosses' is if anything reduced further than in the current system.

Tories predictably jump on the bandwagon without digging into their own funding practices and the effect it has on their policy making (bedroom tax on those on benefits while rich take a tax break being an especially unjust example).