Gloucestershire’s phlebotomists have brought their historic strike to a close after almost a year of action, leaving a legacy of determination – and a clear lesson about the power of solidarity in the face of anti-union laws and austerity, says FBU general secretary STEVE WRIGHT
ON JANUARY 6, Ana Belen Montes was released after 21 years in federal military prison. As a high-ranking member of the US intelligence service, she had forwarded secret information to the Cuban authorities to thwart attacks against Cuba. In a sense, she was waging a “war on terror” — but against her own country’s state terror.
In 1959, the Cubans succeeded in building a socialist revolution on the doorstep of their all-powerful neighbour. Successive US presidents have therefore done everything they can to bring the revolution to its knees.
It is well known that Cuba has been subjected to the longest economic blockade in history, with devastating consequences. Less known is that the country has also been exposed to a lot of other kinds of aggression from the US in the last 64 years.
ISAAC SANEY points to the global stakes involved in defending the Cuban revolution against imperialism and calls for resistance
In the centenary year of Fidel Castro, Cuba faces ferocious aggression from the United States — but we will not kneel, vows FIDEL CASTRO SMIRNOV
Cuba Solidarity Campaign secretary BERNARD REGAN says the inhuman blockade of Cuba not only continues, but the Donald Trump administration is ratcheting up aggression against both Havana and Latin America more widely
During visits to Cheney School and Oxford Brookes University, Ismara Mercedes Vargas Walter highlighted how Cuba devotes half its budget to education, health and social security despite the US blockade, reports ROGER McKENZIE



