(2020-12-03). Doctored Indignation: Australia-China Relations. counterpunch.org 
Clay foot diplomacy is all the rage in Canberra, and the Australian government has become a solid practitioner. Having stuck its neck out across continents and seas to proclaim the need to investigate China over the origins of the novel coronavirus, the Morrison government now finds itself in the tightest of corners. Very much one
(2020-12-03). The David McBride Case: Whistleblowing, Afghanistan and Australian War Crimes. dissidentvoice.org Much complaint can be had of the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force Afghanistan Inquiry Report. It exempts political actors of responsibility for alleged atrocities and war crimes. It suggests that those in the highest echelons of the Australian Defence Forces are ignorant in incompetent innocence. It spares the desk warriors and flays the field …
(2020-12-03). Doctored Indignation: Australia-China Relations. counterpunch.org Clay foot diplomacy is all the rage in Canberra, and the Australian government has become a solid practitioner. Having stuck its neck out across continents and seas to proclaim the need to investigate China over the origins of the novel coronavirus, the Morrison government now finds itself in the tightest of corners. Very much one
(2020-12-03). Saudi-Qatar deal to end blockade is close, say reports. middleeasteye.net 
Saudi-Qatar deal to end blockade is close, say reports | Information about a new agreement comes as US Middle East envoy Jared Kushner tours Gulf countries | Thu, 12/03/2020 – 10: 20 | Senior Advisor to US President Jared Kushner, left, meets with Qatari ruler Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in the capital Doha on 2 December 2020 (AFP) | A deal between Saudi Arabia and Qatar to end th…
(2020-12-03). 'Running out of time': US adds new demands as Russia makes concessions to save last remaining nuclear deterrent deal — envoy. rt.com 
Moscow has agreed to key US demands in a bid to preserve the New START agreement in a race against time to extend the treaty before it expires, the Russian envoy to the US said. Washington then simply made new demands.
(2020-12-03). Israel warns its citizens they may be targeted abroad by Iran following nuclear scientist's assassination. rt.com 
Israel has issued a warning to its citizens abroad about potential terrorist attacks amid threats from Tehran of retaliatory action in response to the killing of a top Iranian nuclear scientist. | Iran was quick to blame Israel last week for the killing of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, though it has not taken credit for the action. Fakhrizadeh had been accused of heading Iran's nuclear program — even being named by PM Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel has long been critical of Tehran's nuclear ambitions. | As multiple leaders in Iran have threatened consequences for the scientist's death, Israelis abroad have been warned…
(2020-12-03). Jerusalem municipality sparks controversy by renaming Damascus Gate steps. middleeasteye.net 
Jerusalem municipality sparks controversy by renaming Damascus Gate steps | Critics denounce the move to name the area after two slain Israeli soldiers as an attempt to further erase Palestinian identity of occupied East Jerusalem's Old City | Thu, 12/03/2020 – 13: 00 | A mask-clad teenager sits in front of the nearly deserted area outside the Damascus Gate in the Old City in occupied East Je…
(2020-12-03). 200K wrongfully purged GA voters fight to be heard in Senate runoffs. therealnews.com 
Civil rights groups are seeking an injunction against Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to allow those voters to participate in the Jan. 5 runoff senate election, which will determine the balance of power in Congress.
(2020-12-03). 250 million Indian workers and farmers strike, breaking world record. peoplesworld.org 
DELHI—On Thursday, Nov. 26, India witnessed the biggest organized strike in human history. Over 250 million workers and farmers, along with their allies among student, women's, and civil society groups, participated in the nationwide strike. Now, a week later, farmers continue to occupy the capital city, and labor leaders are vowing this is only the …
(2020-12-03). Indian Farmers Lead Historic Strike & Protests Against Narendra Modi, Neoliberalism & Inequality. democracynow.org 
As COVID rages through India, which has the second-highest number of reported cases worldwide, hundreds of thousands of farmers are converging on the capital New Delhi to demand the government repeal new laws that deregulate agricultural markets, saying the reforms give major corporations power to set crop prices far below current rates and devastate the livelihoods of farmers. Agriculture is the leading source of income for more than half of India's 1.3 billion people. The farmer revolt comes as some 250 million workers across the country took part in the largest strike in history against the Modi government's n…
(2020-12-03). Moving Past Apartheid: One-State is not Ideal Justice, but It is Just and Possible. counterpunch.org 
Once again, Europe's top diplomats expressed their 'deep concern' regarding Israel's ongoing illegal settlement expansion, again evoking the maxim that Israeli actions "threaten the viability of the two-state solution". This position was communicated by EU Foreign Affairs Chief, Josep Borrell, on November 19, during a video-conference with Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister, Riyad al-Maliki. All Israeli
(2020-12-03). UN, aid groups warn US against blacklisting Yemen's Houthis. middleeasteye.net 
UN, aid groups warn US against blacklisting Yemen's Houthis | Designating Houthis as terrorist organisation would have far-reaching consequences in Yemen, including halting aid work amid threat of famine | Thu, 12/03/2020 – 18: 11 | Aid groups are operating in Yemen amid funding shortages, working to deliver as much humanitarian assistance as possible (AFP/File photo) | The United Nations is making…
(2020-12-03). Video: Chicken Kiev Meets Cold Turkey: Black Sea Turkey-Ukraine Axis Emerges? globalresearch.ca On the face of it, an alliance between Turkey and Ukraine seems like a rather odd creation, yet one that may surprisingly durable simply because neither country has anywhere else to turn. What practically dooms them to a partnership if …
(2020-12-03). Palestinian student activist released from Israeli prison after 15 months. peoplesdispatch.org 23-year-old Mays Abu Ghosh, a student of Birzeit university, was arrested by the Israeli security forces on charges of being a member of the Democratic Progressive Student Pole, a student group affiliated to the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)…
(2020-12-03). A Killing in Iran: Who Gains from Yet Another Assassination? The Role of MEK? globalresearch.ca It is not often that one can agree with the pronouncements made by former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Brennan, but his
(2020-12-03). Yemen: Trump Is Showering Saudi Arabia with Last-Minute Gifts. globalresearch.ca While the administration of Donald Trump readies its exit from the White House and the Middle East, Saudi Arabia's use of American diplomatic cover and weapons alike has taken on a fevered pace as the Kingdom deepens the tragedy it …
(2020-12-03). Venezuela, China Condemn US Sanctions Against Tech Company. venezuelanalysis.com Beijing reiterated its support for Venezuelan sovereignty.
(2020-12-03). We Are Grass. We Grow on Everything. zcomm.org Around 250 million people across India joined the general strike on 26 November, making it the largest strike in world history…
(2020-12-03). Yemen: Unchecked violations 'may amount to war crimes', Security Council hears. news.un.org UN experts called on the Security Council on Thursday, along with the international community at large, to put an end to the "surreal and absurd dimension" of human rights violations engulfing war-torn Yemen, where abuses continue unchecked.
(2020-12-03). "Greater Israel": The Zionist Plan for the Middle East. globalresearch.ca When viewed in the current context, the war on Iraq, the 2006 war on Lebanon, the 2011 war on Libya, the ongoing wars on Syria and Iraq, the war on Yemen, must be understood in relation to the Zionist Plan for the Middle East…
(2020-12-03). Pakistan Pressured by Saudi Arabia and UAE to Recognize and Accept the State of Israel. globalresearch.ca Putting aside the relics of past Cold War theatrics, Pakistan has been consistently struggling to advance peace and justice in the world. The struggle though has intensified. Pakistan currently experiences unprecedented pressure from the conservative Gulf monarchies of Saudi Arabia …
(2020-12-03). Assassination of nuclear scientist is a bid to provoke Iran into conflict. peoplesdispatch.org Newsclick's Prabir Purkayastha talks about the recent assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. He analyzes the implications of this on the region and looks at the myths about Iran's nuclear program…
(2020-12-03). Indian Farmers Lead Historic Strike and Protests Against Narendra Modi. truthout.org As COVID rages through India, which has the second-highest number of reported cases worldwide, hundreds of thousands of farmers are converging on the capital New Delhi to demand the government repeal new laws that deregulate agricultural markets, saying the reforms give major corporations power to set crop prices far below current rates and devastate the livelihoods of farmers. Agriculture is the leading source of income for more than half of India's 1.3 billion people. The farmer revolt comes as some…
(2020-12-03). Asian American Voters Could Help Flip Georgia. thenation.com Asian American Voters Could Help Flip Georgia…
(2020-12-03). A Killing in Iran: Who Gains From Yet Another Assassination? strategic-culture.org It is not often that one can agree with the pronouncements made by former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Brennan, but his
(2020-12-03). Protesters in Pakistan demand release of missing activist Amar Fayaz. peoplesdispatch.org Amar Fayaz, a member of the Progressive Youth Alliance, was abducted from Sindh's Jamshoro three weeks ago in what the protesters claim was an enforced disappearance by the security forces. They have demanded his immediate release…
(2020-12-03). Communist youth in Russia protest budget cuts in health sector. peoplesdispatch.org Even as Russia faces an acute health and social crisis due to COVID-19, the federal budget for 2021-2023 calls for cuts of 200 billion rubles (USD 2.64 billion) in the overall state allocation for the health sector…
(2020-12-03). EU-Turkey tensions mount over Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean. wsws.org The unilateral opening of Varosha or Maraş in northern Cyprus and Ankara's proposed two-state solution have intensified tensions between the European Union and Turkey.
(2020-12-03). Podcast: The Assassination of a Nuclear Scientist and the War against Iran's COVID-19 Vaccine. mintpressnews.com After Iran's most senior nuclear scientist Mohsin Fakhrezadeh was assassinated last week the media has been abuzz about a non-existent nuclear weapons program, justifying a killing that masks a broader campaign to target Iran's COVID vaccine program led by Fakhrezadeh.
(2020-12-03). Labour Unions' Nationwide Strike: Near Total Shutdown in Bengal, Kerala. zcomm.org The strike, on the same day as farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' protest marches across north India, is also in solidarity with the farmers' cause…
(2020-12-03). Thursday 12/3: Rock the Runoff! Virtual Concert Fundraiser to #GOTV in Georgia. indybay.org Online event…
(2020-12-03). Trump Tells Pompeo: Go Wild on Iran, Just Don't Risk 'World War III'. globalresearch.ca President Donald Trump may only have seven weeks According to …
(2020-12-03). Tyson exploits consumers just like its animals and the workers who raise them. nationofchange.org Vulnerable workers, abused animals and a rigged system are the foundation of an unethical, destructive business model.
(2020-12-02). Doctored Indignation: Australia-China Relations. dissidentvoice.org Clay foot diplomacy is all the rage in Canberra, and the Australian government has become a solid practitioner. Having stuck its neck out across continents and seas to proclaim the need to investigate China over the origins of the novel coronavirus, the Morrison government now finds itself in the tightest of corners. Very much one …
(2020-12-02). Doctored Indignation: Australia-China Relations. asia-pacificresearch.com …
(2020-12-02). Working class unites across India/250-million-strong strike! workers.org 
For the second time this year, a class-wide mobilization in an "All-India strike" brought out 250 million workers. With one in four working-age people in India participating, this 24-hour work stoppage can again claim the status of "world's biggest strike." The first record-breaking general strike had taken place on Jan. . . . |
(2020-12-02). Working class unites across India/250-million-strong strike! workers.org For the second time this year, a class-wide mobilization in an "All-India strike" brought out 250 million workers. With one in four working-age people in India participating, this 24-hour work stoppage can again claim the status of "world's biggest strike." The first record-breaking general strike had taken place on Jan. . . . |
(2020-12-02). Britain's Pfizer vaccine announcement gives anti-vaxxers an unlikely boost blamed on Russia without any evidence. rt.com 
The UK's approval of Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine was heralded by the government as a breakthrough for "humanity." However, its announcement was met with a surge of vaccine skepticism online. | Britain became the first nation in the world to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for widespread use on Wednesday. The announcement was delivered in pompous style by the government, with business secretary Alok Sharma celebrating how "the UK led humanity's charge against this disease," and Health Secretary Matt Hancock volunteering to take the jab on live television with ITV's Piers Morgan. | Also on rt.com…
(2020-12-02). Palestinian prisoner Maher-al-Akhras released after 103-day hunger strike. workers.org 
Hunger striker Maher al-Akhras Palestinian political prisoner Maher al-Akhras was released from Israeli prison Nov. 26. He had staged a hunger strike for 103 days in protest of his arrest and incarceration. He was held by occupation forces under "administrative detention" and was never charged with a crime. Akhras, who . . . |
(2020-12-02). Britain's Pfizer vaccine announcement gives anti-vaxxers an unlikely boost blamed on Russia without any evidence. rt.com The UK's approval of Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine was heralded by the government as a breakthrough for "humanity." However, its announcement was met with a surge of vaccine skepticism online. | Britain became the first nation in the world to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for widespread use on Wednesday. The announcement was delivered in pompous style by the government, with business secretary Alok Sharma celebrating how "the UK led humanity's charge against this disease," and Health Secretary Matt Hancock volunteering to take the jab on live television with ITV's Piers Morgan. | Also on rt.com…
(2020-12-02). EU and Russia 'too interconnected' to be enemies, former Italian ambassador tells RT. rt.com 
For all the problems between Russia and the European Union, their economies are so interdependent and complementary that cutting ties would be cause for regret later, former Italian diplomat Cesare Maria Ragaglini told RT. | "We have to start a strategic dialogue, because our relations are too interconnected and cannot be dismissed because we have problems," Ragaglini, who served as Italy's envoy to the UN and ambassador to Moscow before he retired, told RT. | Our economies are very much interconnected, interdependent and complementary. | With the EU planning to roll out a "green deal" proposal, it would be a…
(2020-12-02). Israeli blockade of Gaza severely hindering lives of disabled people, says report. middleeasteye.net 
Israeli blockade of Gaza severely hindering lives of disabled people, says report | Lack of infrastructure, electricity and understanding makes life hard for disabled people, Human Rights Watch reports | Wed, 12/02/2020 – 15: 09 | A Palestinian amputee walks on crutches with another holding a Palestinian flag as they head towards a demonstration in March 2019 in Gaza near the boundary with Israel (AFP) | The I…
(2020-12-02). Thousands bust 'Thanksgiving' myth on 51st National Day of Mourning. workers.org 
Plymouth, Mass. November 26 marked the 51st National Day of Mourning. The first was in 1970 when Aquinnah Wampanoag elder Wamsutta Frank James called Indigenous peoples and their supporters to "America's Hometown." The crowd joined the United American Indians of New England on Cole's Hill in Plymouth, Mass., to expose . . . |
(2020-12-02). Dossier 35: The Legacy of Lekra: Organising revolutionary culture in Indonesia. mronline.org 
Martin Aleida recalls the moment he was released from prison at the end of 1966. At twenty-two, Martin emerged from nearly a year behind bars to Jakarta, unable to find his friends and comrades.
(2020-12-02). Where Are the Progressives? Briahna Joy Gray on Neera Tanden & Other Biden Picks for Economic Team. democracynow.org 
President-elect Joe Biden announced his top economic advisers this week, setting the tone for his administration's recovery plan, including Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress think tank, as head of the Office of Management and Budget. While Tanden would be the first woman of color and the first South Asian woman in the role, critics oppose her organization's cozy relationship with corporate funders, her record of antagonizing and undermining progressive Democrats, and her aggressive foreign policy positions. Briahna Joy Gray, former national press secretary for the Bernie Sanders 2020 pre…
(2020-12-02). Britain's Pfizer vaccine announcement gives anti-vaxxers unlikely boost blamed on Russia without any evidence. rt.com The UK's approval of Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine was heralded by the government as a breakthrough for "humanity." However, its announcement was met with a surge of vaccine skepticism online. | Britain became the first nation in the world to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for widespread use on Wednesday. The announcement was delivered in pompous style by the government, with Business Secretary Alok Sharma celebrating how "the UK led humanity's charge against this disease," and Health Secretary Matt Hancock volunteering to take the jab on live television with ITV's Piers Morgan. | Also on rt.com…
(2020-12-02). Israel's Knesset passes first hurdle towards a fourth election. middleeasteye.net 
Israel's Knesset passes first hurdle towards a fourth election | If the bill to dissolve the Knesset passes, this will put Israel on the track of the fourth election in March 2021 | Wed, 12/02/2020 – 11: 14 | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at the Knesset in Jerusalem on 2 December 2020 (AFP) | Israel is on the verge of heading into a fourth legislative election since April 2019, after a prel…
(2020-12-02). Communist teacher turned health minister leads pandemic fight in India. peoplesworld.org 
"How Communist Physics Teacher Flattens COVID-19 Curve in Southern India," a headline in the online Science News, caught my eye. That was a contrast to the tragic number of pandemic deaths in the rest of India, or for that matter, in the United States. But I wasn't surprised. I had attended a math teachers conference …
(2020-12-02). Palestinian prisoner Maher al-Akhras released after 103-day hunger strike. workers.org Hunger striker Maher al-Akhras Palestinian political prisoner Maher al-Akhras was released from Israeli prison Nov. 26. He had staged a hunger strike for 103 days in protest of his arrest and incarceration. He was held by occupation forces under "administrative detention" and was never charged with a crime. Akhras, who . . . |
(2020-12-02). Communist teacher turned health minister leads pandemic fight in India. peoplesworld.org "How Communist Physics Teacher Flattens COVID-19 Curve in Southern India," a headline in the online Science News, caught my eye. That was a contrast to the tragic number of pandemic deaths in the rest of India, or for that matter, in the United States. But I wasn't surprised. I had attended a math teachers conference …