(2021-12-23). "Civilian Casualty Files" documents the barbarism of US imperialism in Iraq and Syria. wsws.org The Civilian Casualty Files are evidence of extensive war crimes. They reveal that the US military, under the Obama and Trump administrations, deliberately killed civilians, including children.
(2021-12-23). The military: the year in review — war crimes, withdrawals and secrecy. thecanary.co 2021 was a year of decline and reorganisation for the British military. It was also a year when historical war crimes allegations resurfaced, secrecy was expanded and a major defeat became undeniable. We decided to look back over some of the key themes in military affairs which emerged over the year. | This article is another in The Year In Review series. You'll be able to catch up on the many of the other review articles Cut and run: | The Afghanistan occupation finally ground to an end as the Taliban took Kabul in Aug…
(2021-12-23). Middle East: Positive steps needed to restore calm. moderndiplomacy.eu The deteriorating security situation in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, took centre stage at the Security Council on Tuesday as the UN Special Coordinator for the peace process in the region, expressed his "continued concern" over recent developments. Tor Wennesland painted a grim picture of "clashes, attacks, military operations" and continued settler-related violence …
(2021-12-23). Working towards development and peace: Imperial and SDG 16. imperial.ac.uk Sustainable energy solutions for peacebuilding and supporting academics from at-risk areas: how Imperial is meeting Sustainable Development Goal 16.
(2021-12-23). 300 Doctors Implore Australia To Bring Assange Home. popularresistance.org The letter begins by commending Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce for his recent statements calling for the U.S. extradition request against Julian Assange to be dropped. It continues: | "We are concerned that Mr. Assange's apparent mini stroke [reported in the Daily Mail on 11 December] may be the tip of a medical iceberg. Indeed his symptoms suggest as much. It is therefore imperative that Mr. Assange be released from prison, where his health will otherwise continue to deteriorate and where his complex medical needs cannot be met." Continued incarceration, the doctors warn, will place Julian Assange's life at…
(2021-12-23). UN Fails To Agree On 'Killer Robot' Ban. popularresistance.org Autonomous weapon systems — commonly known as killer robots — may have killed human beings for the first time ever last year, according to a recent United Nations Security Council report on the Libyan civil war. History could well identify this as the starting point of the next major arms race, one that has the potential to be humanity's final one. | The United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons debated the question of banning autonomous weapons at its once-every-five-years review meeting in Geneva Dec. 13-17, 2021, but didn't reach consensus on a ban. Established in 1983, the conventi…
(2021-12-23). Who Actually Owns Corporations, Anyway? popularresistance.org According to elementary students of economics and Wall Street financiers alike, the answer to this question is as simple as it is intuitive: the shareholders. The standard narrative goes like this: a share is a "piece of a company." Accordingly, the holders of those shares are the company's collective owners. Shareholder ownership explains why an army of retail investors coordinating trades on Reddit could claim they "owned a piece" of the struggling video game retailer GameStop and why Warren Buffet is as certain he "owns" companies as varied as GEICO and Dairy Queen as less wealthy Americans are certain they ow…
(2021-12-23). D.C. Police Closely Watched Anti-Racist Groups for Years. splcenter.org The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department's Intelligence Bureau (IB) closely watched Black-led organizations and anti-racist groups for years while ignoring the growing far-right threat, according to Hatewatch's review of leaked documents. Experts say this is in line with broader law enforcement attitudes toward such groups.
(2021-12-23). Frederick Douglass and American Empire in Haiti. mronline.org 
Toward the end of his life, Frederick Douglass served briefly as U.S. ambassador to Haiti. The disastrous episode reveals much about the country's long struggle for Black sovereignty while always under the threat of U.S. empire.
(2021-12-23). Libya: National Committee for Human Rights Warns of the Political and Humanitarian Consequences of Aborting Elections. libya360.wordpress.com Demonstrations in Libya protest…
(2021-12-23). Tajikistan's Energy Sector to Benefit from World Bank Support. moderndiplomacy.eu The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors approved today additional grant financing of $65 million in support of the Second Phase of the Nurek Hydropower Rehabilitation Project, which will contribute towards more reliable electricity supply and expansion of renewable energy exports in Tajikistan. "The World Bank is committed to supporting Tajikistan's energy sector, given the …
(2021-12-23). World Food Program to reduce rations for war-torn Yemen due to funds deficit. peoplesdispatch.org The UN agency has said that it urgently requires USD 813 million in donations to continue its food assistance programme in Yemen until May 2022 and an additional USD 1.97 billion for the rest of 2022…
(2021-12-23). B&Q warehouse workers in Worksop, UK to strike indefinitely over pay. wsws.org The fight being waged by workers at Worksop would have already been joined by thousands of workers across the sector if it were not for the actions of the Unite, USDAW and GMB unions.
(2021-12-23). Indian army deployed to break Jammu and Kashmir power workers' strike. wsws.org Workers in India and around the world must take serious warning from the Indian government's rapid deployment of military and para-military forces to suppress an anti-privatization strike by 20,000 power workers in Jammu and Kashmir.
(2021-12-23). Will Russia Learn In Time Before War Is Upon Us? globalresearch.ca For the first time ever since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Kremlin has put its foot down. No NATO for Ukraine and Georgia. Period. | As I predicted would happen, the Kremlin's acceptance over many years of insults and …
(2021-12-23). Headlines for December 23, 2021. democracynow.org South Africa Says Omicron Coronavirus Surge Has Peaked, WHO Warns Blanket Booster Programs Divert Vaccine Supply, Prolonging Pandemic, FDA Approves COVID-19 Pill; Most Monoclonal Antibody Treatments Fail Against Omicron, New York Coronavirus Cases Surge to Record High; Supreme Court to Weigh Vaccine Mandates, Proud Boys Member Pleads Guilty to Capitol Riot Conspiracy, Will Cooperate with FBI, FBI Undercover Teams Infiltrated Portland Racial Justice Protests, U.S. Relaxes Limits on Aid as Afghanistan Faces Dire Humanitarian Crisis, U.N. Calls for Probe into Reports That Sudanese Security Forces Raped Anti-Coup Pro…
(2021-12-23). As Omicron spreads, German intensive care workers warn of already intolerable working conditions. wsws.org An incendiary letter from intensive care nurses at a university clinic in Hamburg gives voice to the frustration and dissatisfaction widespread among nursing staff throughout Germany.
(2021-12-23). Tea Party Redux: How the Koch Network Funds and Fuels the Anti-Lockdown Movement. democracynow.org 
A new report titled "How The Koch Network Hijacked The War On COVID" reveals how a right-wing network linked to billionaire Charles Koch has played a key role in fighting public health measures during the pandemic, including mask and vaccine mandates, contact tracing and lockdowns. The groups include the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER), Donors Trust, the Hoover Institution and Hillsdale College. We speak about the contents of the report with co-author Walker Bragman, who says the right-wing network's attack on public health is designed to "maintain…
(2021-12-23). US-China Cooperation Is Essential to Avert a New Cold War. zcomm.org The main lesson from the Cold War era is that it's a virtual miracle that we have survived…
(2021-12-23). WHO: Blanket COVID-19 vaccine booster programmes could prolong the pandemic. moderndiplomacy.eu Blanket COVID-19 vaccine booster programmes could prolong the pandemic and increase inequity, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Wednesday. "No country can boost its way out of the pandemic," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking in Geneva during his final press briefing for the year. "And boosters cannot be seen …
(2021-12-23). Chomsky: Outdated US Cold War Policy Worsens Ongoing Russia-Ukraine Conflict. truthout.org 
The tension on the Russia-Ukraine border represents an ongoing conflict between two nations with many cultural affinities, but is also part of a much larger rivalry between the U.S. and Europe on one side, and Russia on the other. As Noam Chomsky reminds us in the exclusive interview for Truthout that follows, in 2014, a Russia-supported government in Ukraine was forcefully removed from power by a coup supported by the U.S. and replaced by a U.S. and European-backed government. It was a develo…
(2021-12-23). Canada's top doctor: Reduce contacts immediately or Omicron will overwhelm hospitals. wsws.org Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam's stark warning was swiftly followed by Canada recording its highest total of daily infections since the pandemic began, with 13,460 new cases on Wednesday.
(2021-12-23). Tomgram: Engelhardt, Thanks a Million for 2021! warisacrime.org This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here. My Year and Welcome to ItWhat a Boost(er) It Was for Me! By Tom Engelhardt Whether the pandemic that's swept the world started from a bat or not, as 2021 ends, I think it's safe to …
(2021-12-23). Venezuela Maintains 7 International Air Routes. orinocotribune.com Despite the fact that the state of emergency declared in Venezuela due to the COVID-19 pandemic has yet to be lifted, the president of the National Institute of Civil Aeronautics (INAC), Juan Teixeira Díaz, announced that seven international air routes will continue to service the country. | He clarified that commercial flights to Mexico, Turkey, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Russia, Bolivia, and Cuba will remain availa…
(2021-12-23). UK blocks Venezuela from accessing its international reserves. peoplesdispatch.org Britain's Supreme Court passed a ruling to continue blocking Venezuela from accessing 31 tons of Venezuelan gold valued at USD 2 billion. This gold is deposited at the Bank of England. The case went to court because the Bank has refused to release the gold reserves to the Bolivarian government stating that it recognizes the opposition activist Juan Guaidó as a legitimate authority.
(2021-12-23). Venezuela To Vaccinate 90% Of Its Population To Face Omicron. telesurenglish.net On Wednesday, Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro announced that the first seven COVID-19 cases caused by the Omicron variant were detected in citizens who traveled abroad and recently returned to the states of Miranda, Lara and Caracas. | RELATED: | "It was inevitable that Omicron would arrive in Venezuela. Therefore, we reiterate the call to reinforce biosecurity measures and vaccination. We continue working to care fo…
(2021-12-23). UK Gold Ruling Based On 'Illegal Interference' In Venezuela. popularresistance.org Mexico City, Mexico, December 20, 2021 — The United Kingdom's highest court issued a ruling on Monday favoring opposition figure Juan Guaidó and his efforts to wrest control of US$1.7 billion worth of Venezuelan gold stored at the Bank of England (BoE). | The Monday decision is the latest episode in the legal struggle by the democratically-elected Nicolás Maduro government to regain access to the reserves. Following what the court described as the "one voice principle," the court ruled that under the UK's constitutional arrangements political recognition of foreign states falls to the country's executive.
(2021-12-22). Russia Warns NATO Membership for Ukraine Would Mean WW III. moderndiplomacy.eu Just like when U.S. President John Fitzgerald Kennedy's American Government, during the 1962 Cuban Crisis, warned that Soviet missiles in Cuba would mean World War 3, Russia's President Vladimir Putin's Russian Government warned, on 20 December 2021, that if its adjoining nation of Ukraine becomes a NATO member (which would present the danger of U.S. …
(2021-12-22). Civilian Casualty Files Reveal U.S. Hid Thousands of Deaths in Middle East Air War. democracynow.org 
U.S. air power has been central in the country's wars in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq and elsewhere, with officials promising that drones and other sophisticated weapons allow the U.S. military to carry out precision airstrikes that spare civilians caught in war zones. But a groundbreaking investigation by The New York Times reveals the U.S. military's air wars have been plagued by bad intelligence, imprecise targeting and a lack of accountability for thousands of civilian deaths, many of them children. The two-part series by reporter Azmat Khan is based on a trove of internal Pentagon documents, as well as on-the-gr…
(2021-12-22). A Pentagon Cover-Up: Azmat Khan on How U.S. Hid Thousands of Civilian Deaths in Middle East Air War. democracynow.org 
U.S. air power has been central in the country's wars in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq and elsewhere, with officials promising that drones and other sophisticated weapons allow the U.S. military to carry out precision airstrikes that spare civilians caught in war zones. But a groundbreaking investigation by The New York Times reveals the U.S. military's air wars have been plagued by bad intelligence, imprecise targeting and a lack of accountability for thousands of civilian deaths, many of them children. The two-part series by reporter Azmat Khan is based on a trove of internal Pentagon documents, as well as on-the-gr…
(2021-12-22). Saudi-led airstrike at Sanaa airport disrupts aid supply to war-ravaged Yemen. peoplesdispatch.org Saudi-led airstrikes caused widespread damage to the Sanaa airport where the majority of aid comes into Yemen, causing many international aid organizations to raise concerns…
(2021-12-22). 'We have to reexamine the legality of US drone wars'. peoplesdispatch.org Newly declassified Pentagon documents revealed the scale of devastation caused by flawed US intelligence as US forces bombed across various countries in West Asia. An investigation by New York Times showed that "flawed intelligence" and "faulty targeting" resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 civilians over the last decade. Official numbers undercounted these deaths by several hundred at least.
(2021-12-22). Moscow reveals preparations for possible conflict. rt.com 
Russia does not want an armed conflict with Ukraine, but will continue to take steps to defend itself, Moscow's top diplomat has said, as Kiev claims Moscow could order an offensive against its neighbor. | Speaking on Wednesday in an exclusive interview with RT, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia "would not want to choose the path of confrontation," referring to tensions with Kiev. | He warned "hot heads" in Ukraine against military confrontation and said that Russia will respond to any provocations.However, the diplomat said that "the choice is up to our partners." | According to him, "the fact…
(2021-12-22). Moscow reveals when Russia & US will hold crucial security talks. rt.com 
Russian and American negotiators will hold talks early next year on reducing the worsening tensions between Moscow and NATO, the two nations' top diplomats confirmed on Wednesday. | Speaking as part of an exclusive interview with RT, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the countries were planning to hold talks in January, confirming a statement his counterpart in Washington, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, had made to journalists the day before. | Asked about the US reaction to a series of security proposals put forward by Moscow earlier this month, Lavrov said, "Speaking about the real reaction, no…
(2021-12-22). Afghan crisis emerged as the biggest human-made disaster. moderndiplomacy.eu The situation in Afghanistan has emerged as the biggest human-made crisis, where almost half of the 40 million people are facing a shortage of food and almost one-fourth are reached at the starvation stage. The war-torn country is facing a severe shortage of food, medicines, fuel, electricity and severe winter has aggregated the situation further. …
(2021-12-22). Chris Hedges on the Persecution of Julian Assange (Video). scheerpost.com 
In July 2010, Wikileaks published Cablegate, one of the biggest leaks in the history of the US military, including evidence for war crimes and torture. Julian Assange, the founder and spokesman of Wikileaks, immediately found himself a target, accused of hacking, and later sexual assault. He spent the next seven years in asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, fearful that he would be extradited to Sweden to face the accusations of assault and then sent to US. In 2019, Assange was handed over to the British police. On the same day, the US demanded his extradition. He faces up to 175 years in prison for…
(2021-12-22). Downplaying war crimes exposes US hypocrisy: FM. ecns.cn
(2021-12-22). 'Let Us Eat': Protesters in Kabul Call on US to Release Frozen Afghan Funds. news.antiwar.com Carrying signs that read "Let us eat" and "Give us our frozen money," The Associated Press reported that the protesters marched towards the shuttered US embassy in Kabul, with the Taliban providing security. | In August, after the collapse of the US-backed Afghan government, the US froze approximately $9 billion in Afghan reserve…
(2021-12-22). Two Olympic boycotts: Human rights in the service of imperialist gangsterism. wsws.org The 1980 boycott of the Moscow games was bound up with the US agenda of weakening and fracturing the former Soviet Union, which is precisely the Biden administration's strategy toward China in its boycott of the Beijing Olympics.
(2021-12-22). Saudi Attacks Halt Aid Flights Into Yemen Capital. news.antiwar.com The large civilian toll in the Saudi War in Yemen has been driven in large part by the Saudis heavily restricting access to humanitarian aid in the impoverished country. Today, the UN announced that they In the past couple of days, Saudi Arabia warned aid groups away from the airport, then attacked the airport. This further restricts ways of getting supplies into north Yemen after destroying most of the seaports and heavily limiting the ships in the area. | All through the w…
(2021-12-22). Saturday 1/15: CISPES/FMLN anniversary event. indybay.org zoom event – bit.ly/30thanniversaryPeaceAccords…
(2021-12-22). Russia Advises NATO to (Finally) Honor Its 'Not One Inch Eastward' Pledge. strategic-culture.org 
Unlike in 1990, Russia has many options left to itself if NATO ignores its proposal for peace and continues to advance on the former Soviet space. | As NATO continues its mission creep inexorably towards the Russian border, Moscow issued a security proposal to the Western military bloc, which is in fact nothing less than an ultimatum: halt any further eastward military advances or Russia will be forced to act on behalf of its national interests. | The date February 9, 1990 will be forever remembered among historians as a 'day of infamy' as far as NATO-Russia relations are concerned. That was the date when U.S. Se…
(2021-12-22). Surprise Protests at War Profiteers Boeing and Lockheed Martin in Silicon Valley. indybay.org Noisy visitors descended on two of the "Big 5" war companies in Menlo Park and Palo Alto on December 10. Members of CodePink, the Raging Grannies, Bay Area Sunrise Movement, Vigil for Democracy, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom and others joined in protest. Activists delivered messages demanding the war profiteers transition to life-enhancing business instead of making a killing on killing.
(2021-12-22). The Danger in the Shadows. indybay.org While everyone is distracted with Corona measures and coverage, the danger of nuclear war is increasing. The new "Krefeld Appeal" for Peace of November 2021 wants to draw attention to this danger and at the same time put public pressure on the government to stop the path it is on.
(2021-12-22). United States Still Strongarming 'Democracy' Onto Libya. towardfreedom.org The Western imperialist forces responsible for the overthrow and assassination of Muammar Gaddafi, as well as the destruction of Libya, are now trying to force elections and so-called "democracy" onto the country, writes Netfa Freeman.
(2021-12-22). After Selling Brand For An Estimated $70 Million, Diddy Wins Bid To Buy Back Sean John From Bankrupt Owner. moguldom.com Five years after selling a majority stake in his signature streetwear brand Sean John, Sean "Diddy" Combs has regained full ownership and control of the company. The hip-hop mogul once again became the sole owner after the previous majority owner, Global Brands Group, went bankrupt. Diddy won a bidding war against four other parties, purchasing …
(2021-12-22). Affordable Child Care Is the Boost Our Economy Needs. otherwords.org Child care is one of the biggest expenses many families face — in much of the country, it can run higher than college tuition. Could a national child care program ease that burden? | We've come close before. During World War II, the federal government provided child care around the clock to enable more women to work in the war industries. In 1971, we nearly got a national child care program until President Richard Nixon vetoed legislation that had strong bipartisan support. | Now, with Senator Joe Manchin stalling President Biden's Build Back Better Act, we could be on the brink of another disappointment. O…
(2021-12-22). Published Papers Show US Asked Japan for Military Aid During 1990 Gulf War, Reports Say. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Uncovered Japanese government documents show that in the wake of the 1990 Gulf War then-US President George W Bush asked Japan for logistical aid from its Self-Defence Forces, Kyodo news agency reported on Wednesday.
(2021-12-22). 'Few know who I am': Ronaldo's girlfriend Rodriguez teases new Netflix show (VIDEO). rt.com 
The expectant mother of Cristiano Ronaldo's twins, Georgina Rodriguez, has produced a glamorous teaser for a Netflix documentary which is expected to reveal what life is like as the partner of the planet's most famous athlete. | Manchester United forward Ronaldo plays a star role in the real-life drama about his Buenos Aires-born girlfriend, who he purportedly met in a Gucci store in 2016. | The self-aggrandizing six-part show has now been given a release date of January 27, according to Rodriguez, who posed on top of a large sculpture of her name in a dress and heels as part of a promotional post with the bro…
(2021-12-22). How The Koch Network Hijacked The War On COVID. dailyposter.com 