(2021-12-20). Yemen and Afghanistan Face Unprecedented Famine — Crimes of Mass Starvation. journal-neo.org 
Sounding the alarm this December Nicholas Papachrysostomou, MSF head of mission in Yemen made clear that well beyond the many casualties War claimed over the past seven years, famine weighs much heavier on the war-torn nation, a fate Afghanistan unfortunately shares. "A nearly seven-year long conflict has badly affected the country's economy and weakened an …
(2021-12-20). Afghanistan economy in 'freefall', threatening to take entire population with it. moderndiplomacy.eu Afghanistan's economy is in "free fall", the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator told a special meeting on Sunday, warning that if decisive and compassionate action is not taken immediately, it may "pull the entire population with it". Speaking virtually to the 17th Extraordinary Session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers in …
(2021-12-20). Increased NATO military exercises in Ukraine are preparation for war with Russia: military analyst. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Complete from today's TASS. As reported here two days ago: DM: Ukraine to host 10 NATO exercises, participate in 16 abroad next year Izvestia: NATO approaching Russia's borders Ukraine plans ten large-scale military drills with NATO's participation in 2022, which obviously raises serious alarm bells in Russia. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that the alliance's …
(2021-12-20). UN report documents massive attacks on democratic rights in Ukraine. wsws.org Limited as it is, the UN report exposes attempts to frame a potential war between a "free Ukraine" against an "aggressive" Russia as a "war for democracy" as a complete fraud.
(2021-12-20). U.S. congressional delegation arrives in Ukraine to discuss threat of war with Russia. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com US Congress delegation arrives in Ukraine to discuss threat of war with RussiaA group of congressmen announced Washington's readiness to take tough measures in response to any encroachment on sovereign Ukrainian territory *** "Representative Jason Crow led a U.S. Congressional delegation to Kyiv to discuss Russia's aggressive military buildup in and around Ukraine and hear …
(2021-12-20). West mulls Finnish war scenario for Russia in addition to Bandera, Mujahideen models. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com As Helsinki confirms it will purchase 64 U.S. F-35s, now equipped to deliver B61-12 tactical nuclear weapons, the 1939-1940 Finnish-Russian Winter War scenario is also being proposed by Western analysts to combat Russia in Ukraine in addition to those of the World War II Ukrainian Insurgent Army and the Afghan Mujahideen model of the 1980s. …
(2021-12-20). Headlines for December 20, 2021. democracynow.org Build Back Better in Jeopardy After Sen. Joe Manchin Announces He Will Not Vote in Favor, Federal Company Vaccine Mandate Reinstated; New Data Show Moderna Booster Helps Fight Omicron, Southwest CEO Tests Positive After Senate Hearing; Sens. Booker and Warren Announce They Have COVID, Omicron Sends COVID Cases Surging, Prompts New Restrictions in Israel, U.K., the Netherlands, 35-Year-Old Progressive Activist Gabriel Boric Will Be Chile's Next President, Death Toll from Super Typhoon Rai Rises to 375 in Philippines; Floods Kill 8 in Malaysia, Hong Kong's "Patriots Only" Election Sees Record Low Turnout, Hundreds…
(2021-12-20). New Zealand Defence Assessment calls for more aggressive anti-China stance. wsws.org The Defence Assessment firmly aligns New Zealand with US and Australian imperialism in the escalating drive to war against China.
(2021-12-20). Speaking Truth to Empire about Metaverse and Civil Liberties. warisacrime.org Speaking Truth to Empire on KFCF 88.1 FM independently owned and locally operated since 1975 in Fresno, Dan Yaseen interviews John Whitehead, an attorney and author who has written, debated and practiced widely in the area of constitutional law and human rights. Whitehead's concern for the persecuted and oppressed led him, in 1982, to establish …
(2021-12-20). Why the U.S. Will Reject Russia's Proposed Peace-Settlement. moderndiplomacy.eu On December 17th, Russia presented America with a proposed peace-settlement that would empower the U.N. to be not only nominally but in reality the one-and-only body that can create international laws. The proposed treaty would obliterate America's effort to replace the U.N. by America's never-defined 'rules-based international order', which was first proposed by the neoliberal-neoconservative …
(2021-12-20). "A Big Relief": Haitian Immigrant Rights Leader Jean Montrevil Wins Victory in Fight to Stay in U.S. democracynow.org 
Longtime immigrant rights leader Jean Montrevil has been granted three years of protection from deportation as part of a settlement for the First Amendment lawsuit Montrevil filed against the U.S. government that argued federal immigration officials targeted him for deportation due to his activism. Montrevil was abruptly deported to Haiti in 2018 but was allowed under the Biden administration to return home to New York in October to reunite with his family. We speak with Jean Montrevil, who says the news has given him "peace of mind" to enjoy the holiday season without fear of getting detained or deported, as wel…
(2021-12-20). On Contact: America's War Machine. popularresistance.org Chris Hedges discusses with Andrew Cockburn his new book, 'The Spoils of War — Power, Profit and the American War Machine'. | Cockburn's book lays bare the naked lust for profit that is behind America's endless wars and bloated military budget. The American war machine, he writes, can only be understood in terms of the "private passions" and "interests" of those who control it — principally, a passionate interest in making money.
(2021-12-20). Kevin Kàºhnert: From "party rebel" to SPD secretary-general. wsws.org The coalition agreement Kàºhnert wants to push through as SPD leader is a declaration of war on the working population and a firm commitment to militarism.
(2021-12-20). West Complicit in Arming Chile to Violate Mapuche Rights. towardfreedom.org Between former U.S.-backed dictator Augusto Pinochet's terror laws being used to criminalize Mapuche elders and activists, the United States and the United Kingdom arming Chile's security forces, and the failure of international agencies to treat the Mapuche conflict with urgency, the West appears complicit in the genocide of the Mapuche people.
(2021-12-20). Dr. Carlos del Rio on Omicron Surge, COVID Testing Crisis & the Need to Vaccinate the World. democracynow.org 
With the emergence of the highly transmissible Omicron variant, the United States is now averaging over 130,000 new COVID-19 cases a day, and health officials warn the U.S. could see a million new cases a day by February. We speak with health expert Dr. Carlos del Rio, who says that vaccination complemented by booster shots is the best defense against severe illness. "Everybody's going to get infected. You're going to be exposed to this virus because it's essentially going to be everywhere," says del Rio.
(2021-12-20). The Biden administration is lying: Scientists warned about Omicron threat. wsws.org The claim by Vice President Kamala Harris that "We didn't see Omicron coming" is a lie aimed at evading responsibility for the catastrophic outcome of a policy of sacrificing human life for private profit.
(2021-12-20). Outgoing NIH director warns that Omicron variant means "a million cases a day" by February. wsws.org Dr. Francis Collins, who is leaving the National Institutes of Health after 12 years, made the warning in an interview Sunday with National Public Radio.
(2021-12-20). Thailand eases restrictions despite Omicron warnings. wsws.org Thailand joined a rapidly growing list of countries when it first detected an imported case of the more transmissible and vaccine-resistant Omicron variant on December 6.
(2021-12-20). Tomgram: Frida Berrigan, Affluenza on the Holiest Holiday of the Year. warisacrime.org This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here. Yes, I still remember Christmas as a child. The tree, of course. The cotton under it for "snow" with little figures of skiers on it (though no one in my family had ever been near a pair of …
(2021-12-19). US Air Wars Killed Thousands of Civilians, Including Children, NY Times Reports. truthout.org 
Thousands of previously hidden Pentagon documents show that the U.S. air wars in the Middle East have been marked by "deeply flawed intelligence" and have killed thousands of civilians, many of them children, The 5-year Times investigation received more than 1,300 reports examining airstrikes in Iraq an…
(2021-12-19). Anti-Chinese Sentiment Continues in South Korea. journal-neo.org 
We have mentioned more than once how anti-Chinese sentiments are nurtured in today's South Korea, and although according to conservative circles, Moon Jae-in's administration pursues a pro-Beijing course, an incitement of hatred towards China comes not only from below but also from above. According to a joint survey conducted in June 2021 by the daily …
(2021-12-19). Why We Must Defend Julian Assange. orinocotribune.com By Margaret Kimberley — Dec 14, 2021 | Julian Assange is one of the political prisoners that the US claims not to have. The UK is again the good vassal, keeping him locked up until the Biden administration finds an opportune time to ship him off to a kangaroo court. Everyone who believes in press freedom and who opposes imperialism must be a staunch Assange defender. | December 10 is International Human Rights Day. It is always a sham holiday for the United States, which locks up its own people at rates exceeding those of every other country, and routinely makes war against the rest of the world. In 2021 the…
(2021-12-19). Venezuela and Belarus Sign Bilateral Agreements in Strategic Areas. orinocotribune.com This Friday, December 17, the governments of Venezuela and Belarus signed several agreements at the closing event of the Eighth Meeting of the Venezuela-Belarus high level mixed commission, in order to consolidate strategies for the benefit of both nations and for strengthening cooperation relations. At the Simón Bolivar room of the Miraflores Palace, the President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, stressed that Venezuela "is taking a successful step in the right direction, with the pace, speed and intensity that is needed," by signing agreements that will allow the development of different sectors of the national ec…
(2021-12-19). Native Mascots Are A Direct Result Of America's Fabricated Colonial History. popularresistance.org The negligence of our nation's history has allowed for the continued racist representation of Native Americans, specifically when discussing their representation as mascots in amateur and professional sports. Several scholars have chosen to raise awareness to the ongoing misrepresentation and racist imagery that is present in amateur and professional sports by arguing against the allowance of such images, claiming such representation to be a by-product of a postcolonial society that allows for cultural imperialism, where the idea of Native American lives and presence are simply a thing of the past and not of the…
(2021-12-19). Venezuela: Oil Output Continues Upward Swing as Iran Calls for Greater Cooperation. venezuelanalysis.com Oil revenues will reportedly fund 61 percent of Venezuela's 2022 budget following a recent hike in crude production and exports.
(2021-12-19). Kite Line: Carceral Nonprofits. itsgoingdown.org Long-running abolitionist radio show Kite Line looks at the impact of carceral non-profits who steer radical change towards liberal reform under the guise of decarceration. We are sad to report that Russell Maroon Shoatz, who was recently granted compassionate release after his decades in prison, has passed away. This week, we return to the final…
(2021-12-19). The U.S. Military Is Registering 15-Year-Olds for the Draft. warisacrime.org 
By David Swanson, World BEYOND War, December 18, 2021 Most U.S. states still have excuses when asked to make voter registration automatic, but in various states — including here in Virginia — draft registration is automatic even for 15-year-olds who want a learner's permit to drive a car. (This is still only for males, as …
(2021-12-19). Mr. Blue and Maria: A Musical Dream. dissidentvoice.org 
Sixty years ago in the late fall and early winter, a seventeen-year-old blue-eyed Bronx boy went by himself to see an afternoon showing of West Side Story on Fordham Road in the north Bronx. He took the bus to the theater but walked the few miles home in a romantic daze, in love with Maria …
(2021-12-19). Privileging the Privileged in Admission to Elite U.S. Colleges. warisacrime.org Although a major scandal erupted in 2019 over bribery and other fraudulent practices used by wealthy Americans to secure their children's admission to elite colleges, the affluent continue to benefit from other kinds of special admission policies that are perfectly legal. Consider the fact that, according to a recent study, only about 57 percent of …
(2021-12-19). Why Russia vetoed at the U.N. the U.S.-proposed inclusion of climate-change as a 'National Security' issue. moderndiplomacy.eu The United States Government wants to persuade the gullible global public that that Government takes seriously the global-warming threat. The only way actually to stop global warming — if it still can be stopped — is to outlaw, even if in only one major country (such as the U.S.), purchases of stocks and bonds in …
(2021-12-19). Pakistan-Bangladesh: Need to move forward. moderndiplomacy.eu History tells that countries, at daggers drawn for centuries, progressed by leaps and bounds once they buried the hatchet. Europe is a case in point. They first general agreement on trade and tariffs to to remove kinks and wobbles in free flow of goods and services. And , then joined the European Union. Thus they …
(2021-12-19). WEEKEND READER: The Inside Stories of 2021. dailyposter.com 
(2021-12-19). Tales Of Resistance: Guaidó's Pie. popularresistance.org A few days ago I was out grocery shopping when I heard a man tell his friend that Venezuela was the only country in the world with two presidents but where everything was still screwed up. | This has become a running joke among Venezuelans. However, some three years ago, when Juan Guaidó proclaimed himself "interim president" and was instantly backed by the United States and the European Union, things didn't seem so funny. | The government and its support base feared this was the opening act ahead of a US military invasion. Opposition activists weren't totally clear as to what was going on, but their leaders were…
(2021-12-19). Venezuela Has Carried Out Largest Drug Seizure in 10 Years. orinocotribune.com This Saturday, December 18, Venezuelan National Anti-Drug Superintendent, Richard López Vargas, highlighted that Venezuela has seized 51 tons of illicit drugs so far in 2021, the highest amount in the last 10 years. | "A significant quantity, 51 tons, were seized in 5,334 procedures by law enforcement agencies," he informed. "The last time this figure was superceded was in 2011; which means that today represents the largest seizure in the last 10 years." The superintendent explained this during the first edition of the 2021 Citizen Security Expo, which is being held in the Military Circle, Los Próceres, in Caraca…
(2021-12-19). Venezuela: What Country Will it Be? orinocotribune.com By Marco Teruggi — Dec 8, 2021 | The economic and financial catastrophe that relentlessly devastated the Venezuelan population during the last few years seems to be easing, while the government of Nicolás Maduro encourages the return of the old entrepreneurial forms of accumulation. Harassed by the imperial powers, the recent elections revealed a decrease in the hard core of the Chavista hardliners and at the same time revealed the fragmentation of the opposition. From Caracas, a chronicle brimming with questions, about the country that mocks forecasts and closed conclusions. | "This was the richest country,…