THE rejection of the historic peace accord signed between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in a referendum by a wafer thin majority had come as a shock to most Colombians and the international community. A referendum, which was not constitutionally mandated, was held just a few days after the two sides signed the permanent cease fire agreement with much fanfare in Havana on September 26. Opinion polls had shown overwhelming support for the agreement to end the war that has been going on for more than 50 years.

Below we publish remarks by Raúl Castro Ruz, first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee, and president of the Councils of state and ministers, during the political posthumous tribute to Comandante en Jefe of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz, in Santiago de Cuba’s Plaza Mayor General Antonio Maceo Grajales on December 3, 2016, “Year 58 of the Revolution”.THIS afternoon, upon arrival to the heroic city, the funeral procession transporting Fidel’s ashes, which retraced in reverse the route of the Caravan of Liberty of 1959, and visited embl

THE whole of Havana and various Cubans from different parts of the country had joined in a huge memorial meeting to pay homage to Comandante Fidel Castro Ruz.  The memorial meeting was held at the Plaza de la Revolucion “Jose Marti”.  23 heads of States/ governments, vice presidents from six countries, 13 former presidents/prime ministers, four parliamentary delegations led by the speaker/chairperson and 16 ministerial delegations had arrived to participate in this memorial meeting.  The meeting was held on November 29, barely 72 hours after Comrade Fidel Castro was cremated.  Comrade Fidel

IT was at the end of September last year that Russia in a surprise move dispatched its planes and troops to Syria at the request of the government in Damascus. The jihadi forces and their western backed allies were intent on delivering the coup d'grace to the legitimate secular government before the end of that year. More territory and towns, including the historic city of Palmyra, had fallen to the terrorist Daesh (IS) and the Jabhat al Nusra Front. Washington and its allies were waiting for the much heralded regime change in Syria even as the country was awash in blood and suffering.

THE 11th Congress of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) was held from October 28-31, 2016 in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. The four-day Congress began on 28th evening with a mass rally held at Soharawardi Uddan.  Party workers and supporters, both men and women, attended the open session from across the country.