2020-12-11: News Headlines

Andrew Korybko (2020-12-11). The Future of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the "Dual Circulation Era" globalresearch.ca China's new development paradigm of dual circulation is not a repudiation of its prior BRI-driven model of globalization, but is actually complementary to it. Observers shouldn't forget that many of the hundreds of billions of dollars of BRI-related loans are …

Workers World Party (2020-12-11). PDF of December 10 issue. workers.org Download the 12-page PDF. Capitalist COVID catastrophe FIGHT or DIE! Message from Peltier; Reparations now! Justice for Breonna denied again; Disability rights; Workers demand justice; DEA surveillance; Editorial: New president — same wars; Commentary: Becoming a cadre; GLOBAL: China: global vaccines, science; India: worker & farmer uprising; Cuba; France; Palestine; Venezuela. . . . |

Associated Press (2020-12-11). Delaware-sized iceberg floats toward South Georgia, puts wildlife at risk. peoplesworld.org &nbsp…

Tony Kevin (2020-12-11). How Australia Sabotaged Its Own Interests in Relations with China. asia-pacificresearch.com

WSWS (2020-12-11). US B-52 bombers threaten Iran for second time in three weeks. wsws.org These massive warplanes used to devastate Vietnam half a century ago have been deployed amid mounting US and Israeli war threats and provocations against Iran.

Editor (2020-12-11). Jon Wiener: What Aaron Sorkin Got Wrong in 'The Trial of the Chicago 7'. scheerpost.com Click to subscribe on: Apple / Spotify / Google Play " The Trial of the Chicago 7," an Aaron Sorkin film that recently aired on Netflix, brought an important chapter in the history of American activism to screens around the globe. Based on real events, the film dramatizes the 1969 trial of eight activists who were arrested during the Vietnam War protests that took place in Chicago at the 1968… |

Middle East Eye (2020-12-11). ICC Drops Probe into Alleged UK War Crimes in Iraq Despite 'Reasonable' Evidence. globalresearch.ca Despite finding "reasonable basis" for allegations of war crimes against British soldiers in Iraq, an International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor dropped a preliminary investigation, citing the UK's own efforts to investigate the conduct of its troops in the war. | In …

Mike Kinney (2020-12-11). Tibetan Delek Children's Foundation: Helping Poor Kids in the Himalayan Mountains. indybay.org Delek Children's Foundation helps with healthcare & education to the poor children in the isolated villages of Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan and Indian in the Himalayan Mountains…

news.un (2020-12-11). Yemen: food insecurity a 'ticking timebomb', warn aid agencies. news.un.org UN humanitarians issued a fresh alert on Friday for war-torn Yemen, warning that time is running out to avoid famine in the country. Out of two million children who need treatment for acute malnutrition, 360,000 are at risk of dying if they do not receive medical care, the World Food Programme (WFP) said.

Areeb Ullah (2020-12-11). Which Middle Eastern and North African countries have normalised relations with Israel? middleeasteye.net Which Middle Eastern and North African countries have normalised relations with Israel? | Morocco joins a handful of countries in the region to have made official diplomatic relations with Israel | Fri, 12/11/2020 – 14: 30 | Egypt under President Anwar Sadat – pictured here left, shaking hands with then-Israeli Premier Menachem Begin in front of US President Jimmy Carter – became the first Arab country i…

MEE and agencies (2020-12-11). Israel normalisation: What Morocco gets in return. middleeasteye.net Israel normalisation: What Morocco gets in return | As Morocco becomes the fourth Arab country to normalise ties with Israel, MEE looks at the likely gains for the North African nation | Fri, 12/11/2020 – 13: 07 | Moroccan and Israeli flags. Recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara has been described as a 'gift' to the North African country from the outgoing US administrati…

Lily Galili (2020-12-11). Israeli politicians trying new Arab-Jewish partnerships in bid for success. middleeasteye.net Israeli politicians trying new Arab-Jewish partnerships in bid for success | On the left and right, parties are making overtures to the country's Palestinian community in anticipation of a fourth election in Israel – but can the gap be bridged? | Fri, 12/11/2020 – 12: 25 | A Palestinian citizen of Israel arrives at a polling station decorated with portraits of Israeli politicians to cast his ballot for t…

Yasmina Allouche (2020-12-11). Israel-Morocco normalisation deal condemned online. middleeasteye.net Israel-Morocco normalisation deal condemned online | Using the hashtag 'Moroccans Against Normalisation', many have blasted the deal as a loss for Sahrawis and Palestinians alike | Fri, 12/11/2020 – 15: 05 | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Morocco's King Mohammed VI. The countries have shared nearly six decades of close cooperation on intelligence and military matters in secr…

Global Research News (2020-12-11). Selected Articles: What Happens if Something Goes Wrong after You Receive a COVID Vaccine? globalresearch.ca By Government and media propaganda has firmly convinced most of the citizenry of the West that Russia invaded Crimea, and the truth …

Peter Boyle (2020-12-11). Thai democracy activists defy escalating repression. greenleft.org.au Despite growing number of democracy activists facing charges under Thailand's notorious lèse majesté law, the youth-led movement keeps up its mass mobilisations, reports Peter Boyle.

Staff (2020-12-11). U.S. Recognizes Morocco's Occupation of Western Sahara in Latest Betrayal of Sahrawi People. democracynow.org We continue to examine the U.S.-brokered deal between Morocco and Israel to normalize relations. As part of the deal, the U.S. will become the first country in the world to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, which Morocco has occupied since 1975 in defiance of the international community. We convene a roundtable to discuss developments: Mouloud Said, a representative of the Polisario Front in Washington; Stephen Zunes, professor of politics and international studies at the University of San Francisco; and Sahrawi journalist and activist Nazha El-Khalidi.

_____ (2020-12-11). Joe Biden Might Have Good Instincts, but His Foreign Policy Team Doesn't. strategic-culture.org Ted Galen CARPENTER | Considerable controversy has emerged in both the foreign policy community and the news media over whether Joe Biden's administration will reflexively restore America's pre-Trump approach to international affairs. On no issue is that question more crucial than with respect to Syria, and on no issue is it more imperative that Biden repudiate the legacy of the Obama administration. A failure to take that step will cause the United States to become even more deeply mired in the Syrian quagmire. Not only would such an unwise course create another endless U.S. war similar to the interventions in A…

RT (2020-12-11). Western media claims Russian missile tests mean Moscow preparing for NUCLEAR WAR… as US fires Tomahawks from warship (VIDEO). rt.com A colossal military drill supervised by President Vladimir Putin has sent Western commentators scrambling to their underground bunkers. But as the fiery footage is beamed around the globe, US & UK rocket tests have gone unnoticed. | Britain's Daily Mail reported on Thursday that Moscow was "practising for nuclear war," while the Daily Express told its readers that Russian "sabre-rattling risked reigniting World War 3 fears as global tensions remain high." | However, some observers took to the internet to point out that they must have missed the reports of imminent annihilation in response to similar Western ex…

A Guest Author (2020-12-11). Now in print and available:'Capitalism on a ventilator: The Impact of Covid-19 in China & the U.S.'. workers.org "Capitalism on a Ventilator: The Impact of COVID-19 in China & the U.S." is a new anthology contrasting the effective Chinese response to COVID-19 with the disastrous response here in the U.S. It pushes back against the racist anti-China campaign in the media. Due to the growing hostility of the . . . |

Brian Berletic (2020-12-11). Video: Thailand: US Openly Backs Anti-Government Mob. asia-pacificresearch.com

RushTix (2020-12-11). Friday 12/18: "Riffing for the Georgia Runoffs" Live Virtual Comedy w/ Patton Oswalt & Sarah Silverman. indybay.org Live Virtual Show…

Steve Watson (2020-12-11). AirAsia CEO: Asian Nations 'Won't Let Anyone in Without a Vaccination'. globalresearch.ca AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes "I foresee in Asia, anyway, I think they won't let anyone in without a vaccination …

Dennis Argall (2020-12-11). The Approaching Crunch in US Policy Towards China. globalresearch.ca The Republican and Democrat leaders of the US Senate Intelligence Committee have issued a joint statement of intense hostility towards China. This posture is a threat to Australia's national security… and the world. An attempt to tear China down will …

teleSUR (2020-12-11). Argentina's Lower House Approves Safe Abortion Bill. telesurenglish.net After 20 hours of discussion, the Lower House approved the bill for the voluntary termination of pregnancy with 131 votes in favor, 117 votes against, and six abstentions. Now the bill must be sent to the Senate for final approval. | RELATED: | The bill sent by President Alberto Fernandez allows the woman to have a free, safe, and legal abortion until the 14th week of pregnancy. The new rule also establishes that the health workers ma…

John Goss (2020-12-11). Six Dead from Pfizer Trials: Shares Down, Pfizer CEO Makes a Killing. globalresearch.ca There is a good old Russian word "yerunda" which I've started using instead of "nonsense" and "bullshit" to describe the scaremongering COVID-19 narrative blasted at us from morning to night, not because it says anything different but because it gives …

Sharon Brettkelly (2020-12-11). "Five Eyes Spy" Agreement Threatens New Zealand's Independence and Relationship with China? asia-pacificresearch.com

Peoples Dispatch (2020-12-11). Sahrawis condemn US recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara. peoplesdispatch.org In return of US recognition of its rights over Western Sahara, Morocco has agreed to "normalize" its relations with Israel. The United Nations and the majority of the world does not recognize Moroccan claims of sovereignty over the territory.

James M. Dorsey (2020-12-11). Saudi Arabia Sends Joe Biden Mixed Messages. globalresearch.ca Saudi Arabia appears to be drawing lines in the sand as the kingdom prepares for a new era in relations with the United States once President-elect Joe Biden assumes office in January. | In doing so, the kingdom is seemingly signaling …

Martha Grevatt (2020-12-10). La clase trabajadora se une en toda la India °Huelga de 250 millones de personas! workers.org Las mujeres jugaron un papel destacado en la huelga de toda la India, el 26 de noviembre. Por segunda vez este año, una movilización global en una "huelga de toda la India" sacó a 250 millones de trabajadores. Con una de cada cuatro personas en edad de trabajar en la . . . |

Binoy Kampmark (2020-12-10). Imperfect Releases: Andrew Hastie, War Crimes Reports and Australia in Afghanistan. counterpunch.org If one were to get into the head of Australian government MP Andrew Hastie, a security tangle of woe would no doubt await. Having been a captain with the Special Air Services and having also served in Afghanistan, he has been none too thrilled by the publicity soldiers he served with have received. The report

MEE staff (2020-12-10). Al Jazeera anchor files lawsuit against Saudi, UAE rulers over alleged phone hacking. middleeasteye.net Al Jazeera anchor files lawsuit against Saudi, UAE rulers over alleged phone hacking | The lawsuit was brought against Mohammed bin Salman and Mohammed bin Zayed over alleged operation against Oueiss because of her reporting on Gulf states | Thu, 12/10/2020 – 12: 25 | Prominent Al Jazeera TV anchor Ghada Oueiss says she was hacked in the operation (Facebook) | Prominent Al Jazeera TV anchor Ghada Oueiss has fi…

Eds. (2020-12-10). Over 200 million workers and farmers protest against poverty and unemployment triggered by COVID Lockdown. mronline.org The general strike occurred in the context of the devastation brought about by the coronavirus pandemic in India. Added to this are the millions of people who have lost income and who now face increased poverty and hunger, in a country where even before the pandemic 50 percent of all children suffered malnourishment.

Ragip Soylu (2020-12-10). Libya's Haftar releases detained Turkish ship. middleeasteye.net Libya's Haftar releases detained Turkish ship | The cargo ship was released after paying a fine to the eastern Libya commander's forces following threats by Turkey | Thu, 12/10/2020 – 14: 50 | In this file photo taken on 19 October,2020 in Istanbul shows Turkey's third drilling ship 'Kanuni' as it enters the Bosphorus near Haydarpasa port (AFP) | Forces loyal to renegade general Khalifa Haftar have relea…

Patricia Gorky (2020-12-10). Genocidal monarchy set to receive $23 billion in U.S. weapons after Senate resolution fails. liberationnews.org Two resolutions in the Senate to block the sale of $23 billion in advanced fighter jets and drones to the United Arab Emirates failed yesterday in close votes.

Sai Englert (2020-12-10). Limiting Criticism of Israel, Britain Is Closing Down Academic Freedom? globalresearch.ca In October, British Education Secretary Gavin Williamson It is worth remembering that …

Jewel Stolarchuk (2020-12-10). World Economic Forum 2021 Moved to Singapore Due to COVID-19. asia-pacificresearch.com

Jessica Corbett, staff writer (2020-12-10). With Senate—and Nation's Future—at Stake, Corporations Pouring Money Into Georgia for GOP. commondreams.org From Ford to Visa to Verizon, journalist Judd Legum reports corporations are spending big "to keep McConnell in charge."

Belén Fernández (2020-12-10). Israel's Honeymoon with the United Arab Emirates Is Grotesque. globalresearch.ca Since normalizing relations in September, Israel and the United Arab Emirates have teamed up to do what both do best: trample on democratic freedoms, commit atrocities, and whitewash occupation. | *** | Back in 2010, the New York Times' Thomas Friedman …

Abayomi Azikiwe (2020-12-10). Lawsuit Filed to Halt Voter Suppression in the Runoff Senate Elections in Georgia. globalresearch.ca After the third certification of the results of the presidential elections in the state of Georgia, efforts are underway to ensure equal access to the franchise leading up to the pivotal race to determine the composition of the United States …

imperial.ac.uk (2020-12-10). Indian firms risk losing billions of dollars in renewable energy transition. imperial.ac.uk Coal-dependent companies in India are falling behind as the world shifts to greener energy, posing broader risks to the fifth largest economy.

Arshad M. Khan (2020-12-10). Food Fight in India Becomes a Matter of Life and Death. commondreams.org Under the new system, private agricultural businesses, grocers and supermarkets can buy directly from farmers and government price supports have been eliminated. Farmers believe it puts them at the mercy of agro-business. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/india_1.jpg

Mehr News Agency (2020-12-10). China to sanction, restrict travel on US diplomats: FM spox. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 10 (MNA) — China said it will sanction more US officials and place new travel restrictions on American diplomats in retaliation for measures taken by the Trump administration over Hong Kong.

Matthew Ehret-Kump (2020-12-10). Why Modi's "Green Response" to China's "Belt and Road" Is Doomed to Fail. asia-pacificresearch.com

Pepe Escobar (2020-12-10). US Hits "Search and Destroy" Against China's New Silk Roads. globalresearch.ca This article was originally published on Seven years after being launched by President Xi Jinping, first in Astana and then in Jakarta, the New Silk Roads, or Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) increasingly drive the American …

sputniknews (2020-12-10). EU Backs Move to Implement Sanctions on Turkey, Sources Say. sputniknews.com Earlier, Brussels imposed individual sanctions for illegal drilling in the territorial waters of Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean. In November, the EU extended these sanctions for a year, until 12 November 2021.

Ahmad Salah (2020-12-10). Will Joe Biden "Revise" U.S Agenda in Syria? Use Terrorism Pretext to "Keep Boots on the Ground"? globalresearch.ca The mayhem of the presidential elections left the American policy-makers locked in heated arguments about the future of the US domestic and foreign policy alike. One of the most pressing issues on the agenda is the Middle East developments, especially …

Suzanne James (2020-12-10). Australia: Exporting Weapons Is a Clear and Present Danger. asia-pacificresearch.com

commondreams (2020-12-10). CAIR Condemns Senate's Failure to Block 'Corrupt and Dangerous' UAE Arms Deal, Calls on President-Elect Biden to Block Sale. commondreams.org ______________________________…

Hans Nicholas Jong (2020-12-10). Palm Oil Giant Wilmar Unfazed as Watchdogs Cry Foul over Papua Deforestation. asia-pacificresearch.com

Terrell Jermaine Starr (2020-12-10). Activists Fight Voter Suppression in Georgia Runoffs. zcomm.org Groups go to court to reverse wrongful purge of 200,000 voters that could have significant impact on the election's outcome…