(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). The Hypersonic Fall of US Prestige. journal-neo.org 
Even against the backdrop of recent events, the US stubbornly refuses to acknowledge that "American credibility" in the world is falling apart. It is not just a question of political credibility or the collapse of 20 years of American military intervention in Afghanistan. This fall did not begin with Biden or Trump, but with the …
(2021-12-23). Afghans in Denver: "New life, new opportunities, peaceful environment" america.cgtn.com 
It's been a little more than 4 months since Afghanistan fell to the Taliban, prompting a flood of refugees to, among other places, the U.S. Those new arrivals continue to stream into American towns and cities. Helping them set up new lives has not been …
(2021-12-23). The Heat: Afghanistan Crisis. america.cgtn.com 
As winter settles in, millions of Afghans are desperate for food and medical supplies.
(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). New ADB Facility to Help Southeast Asia Revive Tourism. moderndiplomacy.eu The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has set up a $1.7 million technical assistance facility to accelerate Southeast Asia's tourism recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, boost inclusive, sustainable development in the sector, and help local tourism entrepreneurs, especially women and youth, adopt digital platforms to grow their businesses. The Southeast Asia Sustainable Tourism Facility …
(2021-12-23). New US Embargo on Cambodia Over Friendship with China. journal-neo.org 
The United States continues a process of targeting and isolating nations around the globe increasingly choosing to do business with Beijing rather than Washington. The most recent of these is the Southeast Asia nation of Cambodia. For years Cambodia has incrementally pivoted from once serving US foreign policy objectives in the region, to striking a …
(2021-12-23). Alarm bells ring across South Asia as Omicron variant spreads unchecked. wsws.org Highlighting capitalist governments' failure to eliminate COVID-19, South Asia, home to a fourth of humanity, is on the brink of a horrific new surge of the virus.
(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). Vietnamese President Phuc two-day visit to Cambodia. moderndiplomacy.eu Following the meeting of party general secretaries earlier in November 2021, Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc completed his two-day state-level visit(21-22) to Cambodia. Cambodia is going to be the chairman of ASEAN and therefore there is concerns with regard to the likely agenda in the forthcoming ASEAN meetings in the year 2022. President Phuc met …
(2021-12-23). Are Arab militias losing their usefulness for Iran? moderndiplomacy.eu Iranian support for Arab militias has long threatened Iran's detractors, unable to develop an effective counterstrategy. Now, the tide may be turning. A string of events suggests that the usefulness of at least some of the militias in Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, and Palestine is waning as their popularity diminishes and relations with Iran encounter headwinds. The …
(2021-12-23). The Vienna Talks are at a Difficult Stage. journal-neo.org 
As the complex Vienna talks and desperate disputes among their participants proceed, unconcealed threats against Iran are heard from Tel Aviv several times a day. The growing hysteria and multiplication of Israeli military threats against Tehran suggest that the Israeli regime has forgotten that Iran is a powerful state with a modern, well-equipped army and …
(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). A painful year for Gaza's patients. electronicintifada.net Israel has blocked entry of spare parts for medical equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
(2021-12-23). Israeli army rule allowing shooting of stone-throwers will be applied to Palestinians, not Jews. mronline.org 
The Israeli military has changed its rules of engagement to allow its forces to fire on Palestinians who have thrown stones or firebombs even when they no longer pose any danger. The new rule is a sop to Israeli settlers, the IDF's clientele.
(2021-12-23). COVID-19 infections in South Korea hit record high following implemenation of "with COVID" policy. wsws.org South Korean President Moon Jae-in's government enacted new social distancing measures on Saturday that will do nothing to halt the spread of the virus.
(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). 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…
(2021-12-22). '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). The US Fights Asia, Not Just China. newatlas.report December 22, 2021 (Brian Berletic — NEO) — US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken cut short his tour of Southeast Asia due to concerns over COVID-19, the New York Times would report. The aborted trip comes at a time when the US finds itself struggling for relevance in a region it had once held considerably more …
(2021-12-22). Biden's Summit on Democracy Hypocrisy. workers.org 
With great publicity, President Joe Biden called a grand, international Summit on Democracy for Dec 9-10. This gathering, held on Zoom, was hardly more than a Washington D.C., webinar with a few hundred well-chosen invitees and a well-controlled microphone. U.S. Marines in Syria — "democracy" or imperialist domination? Biden invited . . . |
(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). 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). Media forget Afghan plight as US sanctions drive mass famine risk. nationofchange.org Afghan citizens have been plunged into a humanitarian crisis due in no small part to U.S. sanctions, but where is the outrage?>
(2021-12-22). The US is Gaining a Foothold in Uzbekistan. journal-neo.org 
To create sustainable groundwork for further expansion into Central Asia, Washington has recently placed particular emphasis on developing relations and cooperation with Uzbekistan. One of such work areas in this country has been the active opening of "American Corners" in Uzbekistan. It is a US government-supported global network of more than 600 open-access educational centers, …
(2021-12-22). Crypto Pioneer Arthur Hayes' BitMEX Exchange Plans To Launch Its Own Token, BMEX. moguldom.com BitMEX, the cryptocurrency exchange co-founded by crypto pioneer Arthur Hayes, announced in a tweet Tuesday that it is launching its own token, BMEX — "The Token for True Believers". BitMEX was founded in Hong Kong in 2014 by Hayes, Ben Delo, and Samuel Reed, making it one of the earliest crypto derivatives exchanges. It is …
(2021-12-22). Citizens and Experts Call for a Halt to COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout in India. dissidentvoice.org The mass rollout of COVID-19 vaccines should be halted immediately. These experimental vaccines pose serious dangers. That is the message contained in a statement from concerned citizens soon to be forwarded to India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The statement's signatories include medical scientists, doctors, epidemiologists, civil servants, civil society organisations and "deeply concerned mothers, fathers, …
(2021-12-22). Vietnam National Assembly Chairman visit to Korea and India. moderndiplomacy.eu The Vietnam National Assembly Chairman Mr Vuong Dinh Hue visited South Korea and India as part of its six-day official visit (Dec 12-19). The highly successful visits show convergence is with regard to the two important partners of Vietnam. During the visit to the two countries the Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue …
(2021-12-22). Sustainable Plastic Management is key to achieve Green Growth for Bangladesh. moderndiplomacy.eu Sustainable management of plastic will be crucial for Bangladesh to tackle the increasing plastic pollution and ensure green growth, says a new World Bank Report. The 'Towards a Multisectoral Action Plan for Sustainable Plastic Management in Bangladesh' report provides a blueprint for managing plastic pollution over the short term (2022—2023), medium-term (2024—2026), and long-term (2027—2030), which will …
(2021-12-22). "Previously Unknown Massacres": Why is Israel Allowed to Own Palestinian History? dissidentvoice.org 
Haaretz's investigative report — 'Classified Docs Reveal Massacres of Palestinians in '48 — and What Israeli Leaders Knew' — is a must-read. It should be particularly read by any person who considers himself a 'Zionist' and also by people who, for whatever reason, support Israel, anywhere in the world. "In the village of Al-Dawayima (…), troops …
(2021-12-22). Israel codifies shoot-to-kill policy against Palestinians. electronicintifada.net Troops permitted to shoot at people who throw rocks or Molotov cocktails at civilian cars.
(2021-12-22). Finland bill would outlaw Israeli settlement goods. electronicintifada.net "Palestinians are suffering from the longest occupation in modern history," says lawmaker.
(2021-12-22). Headlines for December 22, 2021. democracynow.org Biden Announces New Measures, Defends Vaccine Mandates, Amid Omicron Surge, TX Man Is 1st Omicron-Linked U.S. Death; States Announce Incentives, New Rules to Fight Surge, Rep. Barbara Lee, Govs. Hogan and Walz Announce Breakthrough COVID Infections, U.S. Military to Announce Highly Effective COVID Vaccine, Israel Rolling Out 4th Dose of COVID Vaccine; France Expected to Reach 100,000 New Cases Per Day, Oxfam Files Complaint Against Moderna; EU Approves Novavax COVID Vaccine, Biden Says There Is Still Hope for Build Back Better as Mining Union Urges Manchin to Support Bill, Kellogg's Workers End 11-Week Strike Aft…
(2021-12-22). Nearly 70,000 People Displaced in Malaysia Due to Floods. telesurenglish.net Selangor state Chief Minister Amirudin Shari confirmed that another nine people have been reported dead, bringing the total deaths due to severe flooding in Malaysia to 17 as of Tuesday. | RELATED: | "At this time, our focus is to ensure search and rescue operations are carried out effectively and that they reach all who need it," he said. | The number of displaced persons due to flooding in Malaysia has risen to over 69,400 in seven…
(2021-12-22). California to be an abortion sanctuary state. america.cgtn.com 
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to rule on a landmark 1973 decision that has guaranteed a woman's right to an abortion for nearly 50 years. Many rights groups have called on California to prepare for the influx of millions of women from other states who may need assistance. …
(2021-12-22). At Long Last, Ban Weaponized Drones. warisacrime.org 
An artist in Pakistan attempted to make U.S. drone pilots face the fact that they were killing children. By David Swanson, World BEYOND War, December 21, 2021 Former President Barack Obama recently tweeted that the day of a school shooting was the worst day of his presidency. Well, it certainly shouldn't have been a good …
(2021-12-22). Film on sperm smuggling misrepresents Palestine's prisoners. electronicintifada.net Truth of prison life is more powerful than fiction.
(2021-12-22). When and how will the Korean War end? moderndiplomacy.eu This issue is gaining momentum again, after reports that Beijing supports Seoul's plans to officially confirm the end of the 1950-1953 Korean War. A statement to this effect was made by Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission Yang Jiechi as he met with Chief of South Korean National Security Agency Suh Hoon. Diplomats from …
(2021-12-22). Venezuela and Turkey Agree to Strengthen Cooperation Projects. orinocotribune.com This Tuesday, December 21, President Nicolás Maduro reported that he had a pleasant phone conversation with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to consolidate the cooperation agreements that both nations develop in different areas. | "We talked about the great challenges for the coming years and the need to advance in all areas of cooperation for shared development. Venceremos!" says the tweet shared by the president. |
(2021-12-22). Turkey: Elections Delayed Because of the Lira Rate Collapse. telesurenglish.net Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's President, announced that the presidential and parliamentary election would be held in June 2023, rejecting the possibility of early elections, given the record fall in the Turkish lira exchange rate. | Turkish elections would be delayed given the record fall in the Turkish lira exchange rate. Dec. 22, 2021.
(2021-12-22). What "Centers of Power" are Trying to Set Turkey and Russia at Odds? journal-neo.org 
"Moscow and Ankara did not fall into the trap set by the organizers of the assassination of the Russian ambassador to the Turkish capital, Andrei Karlov. They failed to destroy the friendship of the two countries," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in an interview with RIA Novosti in connection with the fifth anniversary of the Russian …