Daily Archives: December 28, 2021

2021-12-28: News Headlines

Staff (2021-12-28). Headlines for December 28, 2021. democracynow.org World Coronavirus Cases Hit Record High as Omicron Surges, Israel Tests Fourth Vaccine Doses as COVID Surges in Largely Unvaccinated African Nations, Biden Warns Governors of Looming Shortages of Hospital Beds as COVID-19 Cases Near Pandemic Highs, CDC Recommends Shorter Isolation for People with Asymptomatic Coronavirus Infections, Afghan Taliban Bans Women from Road Trips Without Male Escort, Talks on Reviving Iran Nuclear Deal Resume in Vienna, Iraq's Top Court Ratifies Results of October's Contested Election, Russia to Hold Talks with U.S. and NATO Allies over Ukraine Border Tensions, New German Government Mo…

Eshalaxmi Barlingay (2021-12-28). 2021 Year in Review: Afghanistan. america.cgtn.com Four and a half months after the Taliban take-over in Afghanistan, the government is working to improve the country's dire economic situation with little international assistance. With many challenges on the ground, millions of Afghans are still struggling to make a living. Earlier this month, …

Lee Fang (2021-12-28). The Collapse of Afghanistan's Economy. zcomm.org More Afghan people may die from sanctions than from 20 years of war…

WSWS (2021-12-28). Ferry fire in Bangladesh claims 41 lives. wsws.org Last Friday's disaster is the product of decades of government indifference to the profit-driven and unsafe ferry transport system operating in Bangladesh.

Editor2 (2021-12-28). Maduro to Al Mayadeen: We Will Not Abandon Palestine. orinocotribune.com Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro says, in an interview for Al Mayadeen, that the Venezuelan people resisted fierce attacks launched by US imperialism and its allies, and discusses relations with some countries, including Iran and Syria. | In an exclusive interview with Al Mayadeen, Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro noted that 2021 was the first year in which Venezuela registered economic growth since "the beginning of the criminal imperialist US sanctions," adding that this growth was the result of Venezuela's economy which produces food, goods, products, and services. The country has witnessed growth in i…

_____ (2021-12-28). The World is Turning to Nuclear Power amid the Raging Energy Crisis. journal-neo.org The energy crisis is perhaps the worst since 1973, when the Arab countries imposed an oil embargo, protesting against Western support for Israel in the Yom Kippur War. Combined with a pandemic, new strains, and a lockdown relapse threat, it is a deadly blow to economies and industries worldwide. Bloomberg sounds the alarm: problems with …

WSWS (2021-12-28). COVID-19 danger persists in Japan as Omicron variant takes hold. wsws.org The government's response to the latest COVID-19 dangers in contrast to public sentiment demonstrates the need for an international strategy to end the pandemic.

Sheikh Fakhar-e-Alam (2021-12-28). Pakistan — A Wonderful Destination For Adventurous Sports. moderndiplomacy.eu Pakistan is famous for its exciting cities, historical sites, hospitality, great cuisines across the world. However, most of the international states are not aware of the fact that it is an excellent destination to enjoy adventurous sports as well as cultural festivities. The variety of adventure sports in Pakistan is enormous. There are a number …

Staff (2021-12-28). Scholar Angela Davis on Prison Abolition, Justice for Palestine, Critical Race Theory & More. democracynow.org World-renowned author, activist and professor Angela Davis talks about the prison abolition movement from her time as a Black Panther leader to today. In her tireless efforts as an abolitionist and a teacher, Davis continues to be a fierce advocate of education and the interconnected struggles of oppressed peoples. Davis talks about Indigenous genocide, Palestine, critical race theory and the role of independent media. "Democracy Now! helps us to place our own domestic issues and struggles within the context of global battles against fascism," says Davis.

_____ (2021-12-28). A Referendum that was Held in Taiwan. journal-neo.org On December 18, a referendum was held in Taiwan, to which four questions were submitted. Since both leading parties of the country, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and the Chinese National Party (Kuomintang), in increasingly tough opposition to each other in almost all aspects of domestic and foreign policy, called for directly opposite answers to …

Jason Ditz (2021-12-27). 18 Yemeni Soldiers Killed in Maarib in Fight Against Houthis. news.antiwar.com Fighting on Sunday raged inn the area just south of Maarib, with pro-Saudi forces reporting No figures were offered for the Houthi side, though the pro-Saudi side did claim "many Houthis killed in the battle by airstrikes." The Houthis reported 16 airstrikes hit the area. | Heavy airstrikes killing scores of Houthis are a near daily occurrence in Maarib. This has become the last ditch strategy to keep…

Peoples Dispatch (2021-12-27). At least three civilians killed in Saudi airstrike near Yemeni capital Sana'a. peoplesdispatch.org The Saudi Arabia-led military coalition has increased its airstrikes inside Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen since last week. A Saudi airstrike last Monday damaged the Sana'a international airport, preventing the flow of critical humanitarian aid to the country…

Peoples Dispatch (2021-12-27). Houthis continue to advance amid fresh airstrikes and other stories. peoplesdispatch.org In today's episode of the Daily Round-up we take a look at the latest from Yemen where the Houthis seem to have won another victory even as the Saudi-led coalition continues bombing raids. We also look at a proposal by Israel to double the settler population in the occupied Golan Heights, and the impact of the setback to US president Joe Biden's Build Back Better Plan.

_____ (2021-12-27). Media Forget Afghan Plight As US Sanctions Drive Mass Famine Risk. popularresistance.org As the United States withdrew militarily from Afghanistan in August, US TV news interest in the plight of the country's citizens spiked, often focusing on "the horror awaiting women and girls" (CNN Situation Room, 8/16/21) to argue against withdrawal (FAIR.org, 8/23/21). | Four months later, as those same citizens have been plunged into a humanitarian crisis due in no small part to US sanctions, where is the outrage? | Experts warned of an impending humanitarian crisis in the wake of the US withdrawal (IRC, 8/20/21). In recent months, the messages have become more urgent. A UN report (10/25/21) warned that "combi…

_____ (2021-12-27). Why is Turkey so Eager to Run Five Afghan Airports? journal-neo.org On the sidelines of a recent meeting of member-states of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Islamabad, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu discussed operating Afghan airports with acting Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. After these deliberations, Ankara announced that Turkey, together with Qatar, was going to offer services to Taliban (banned in Russia) regarding operating …

Dr. Andrey KORTUNOV (2021-12-27). Russia in the Eastern Mediterranean: The Art of Balancing. moderndiplomacy.eu Strictly speaking, Russia is not an Eastern Mediterranean country. It does not have direct access to the Mediterranean Sea; its most important strategic and economic interests belong to other parts of the world, such as the North Atlantic or East Asia. However, for a long time Russia has been trying to make its presence in …

Andrew Korybko (2021-12-27). The Neo-NAM: From Vision to Reality. moderndiplomacy.eu The latest Putin-Modi Summit was a global geostrategic game-changer unlocking the potential for the two great powers to jointly assemble a new Non-Aligned Movement ("Neo-NAM"). Their meeting came against the backdrop of both countries recalibrating their respective "balancing" acts. Russia has been engaged in high-level diplomacy with the U.S. while India defied America's CAATSA sanctions …

Eric Zuesse (2021-12-27). Why India will likely ally with China, not with U.S. moderndiplomacy.eu India — like the USA that used-to-be — was born out of a revolution (in 1776 in U.S.; in 1947 in India) against imperialism (in fact, against British imperialism, the very same master; i.e., enemy; as the American public had and — ever since 1945 — still has, though this time in the form of …

Internationalist 360 ∞ (2021-12-27). President Maduro Will Travel to Iran to Accelerate Cooperation. libya360.wordpress.com Kawsachun News President Nicolas Maduro has announced upcoming travel Iran "to accelerate the processes of cooperation at all levels and to sign agreements." In an interview for Al Mayadeen, the Venezuelan president said that the Joint Commission between Iran and Venezuela is working on new plans for relations and cooperation. "Very soon I am going…

Staff (2021-12-27). Archbishop Desmond Tutu (1931-2021) on Apartheid, War, Palestine, Guantánamo, Climate Crisis & More. democracynow.org Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the South African anti-apartheid icon, has died at the age of 90. In 1984 Desmond Tutu won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work fighting to end white minority rule in South Africa. After the fall of apartheid, Archbishop Tutu chaired the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, where he pushed for restorative justice. He was a leading voice for human rights and peace around the world. He opposed the Iraq War and condemned the Israeli occupation in Palestine, comparing it to apartheid South Africa. We reair two interviews Archbishop Tutu did on Democracy Now!, as well as two speech…

Amy Goodman (2021-12-27). Desmond Tutu (1931-2021) Speaks on Apartheid, Palestine, Climate Crisis and More. truthout.org Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the South African anti-apartheid icon, has died at the age of 90. In 1984 Desmond Tutu won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work fighting to end white minority rule in South Africa. After the fall of apartheid, Archbishop Tutu chaired the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, where he pushed for restorative justice. He was a leading voice for human rights and peace around the world. He opposed the Iraq War and condemned the Israeli occupation in Palestine, comp…

Staff (2021-12-27). Headlines for December 27, 2021. democracynow.org U.S. Coronavirus Cases Skyrocket as Omicron Spreads at Unprecedented Pace, China Orders Lockdown for 13 Million in Xi'an; Pope Francis Calls for Universal Access to Vaccines, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Who Battled Apartheid and Championed Human Rights, Dies at 90, Israel Plans to Double Population of Illegal Settlements in Occupied Golan Heights, Burmese Military Accused of Massacring Dozens of Civilians , Iraqi Kurds Hold Funerals for Family Members Who Drowned Crossing English Channel , Dams Burst After Torrential Rains in Brazil; U.S. Records Record High December Temperatures, Sarah Weddington, Who Successfully…

Ali Abunimah (2021-12-27). Palestinians pay tribute to Desmond Tutu. electronicintifada.net South African liberation icon strongly endorsed Israel boycott.

Abigail Leibowitz (2021-12-27). Finding What is in Common: The "Hamsa Aleichem" dialogue group for Israeli and Palestinian students. juancole.com ( Traveling Twins) — At Hebrew University, I am participating in a "Hamsa Aleichem" dialogue group for Israeli and Palestinian students. Organized by the campus Hillel and Sadarah/Kidma program (a head-start program designed for East Jerusalem high school graduates seeking higher education), this dialogue initiative has already given me some new insights. The Palestianin students, …

teleSUR (2021-12-27). Myanmar Christmas Eve Massacre Leaves 35 Civilians Dead. telesurenglish.net On Sunday, the United Nations coordinator for United Nations emergency aid, Martin Griffiths, condemned the massacre of at least 35 civilians and the disappearance of two humanitarian workers from the NGO Save The Children that occurred on December 24 in Moso town, in Kayah State, Myanmar. | RELATED: | "Credible reports claim that at least 35 people, including at least one child, were forced to abandon their vehicles, killed a…

Peoples Dispatch (2021-12-27). At least three dead and 80 missing after landslide at jade mine site in Hpakant, Myanmar. peoplesdispatch.org In yet another disaster of the illegal jade mining industry in Myanmar, at least three people died and over 80 are missing after a landslide hit Hpakant in the early hours of December 22. Most of those missing are reportedly mine workers…

Democracy Now! (2021-12-27). Archbishop Desmond Tutu (1931-2021) on Apartheid, War, Palestine, Guantánamo, Climate Crisis & More. dissidentvoice.org Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the South African anti-apartheid icon, has died at the age of 90. In 1984 Desmond Tutu won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work fighting to end white minority rule in South Africa. After the fall of apartheid, Archbishop Tutu chaired the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, where he pushed for …

Staff (2021-12-27). JOURNALISTS FROM US, RUSSIA, AND YEMEN TAKE TOP HONORS AT RT'S INTERNATIONAL AWARDS FOR WAR JOURNALISTS. rt.com MOSCOW, DECEMBER 27, 2021 — The jury of the Khaled Alkhateb International Memorial Awards 2021, an annual competition that recognizes top-class journalism from conflict zones, has announced its winners. They are war correspondents and journalists from Russia, the US, and Yemen. The awards were established in honor of RT Arabic freelancer Khaled Alkhateb, who died on July 30, 2017 while reporting from the front lines in Syria. |

_____ (2021-12-27). Turkey's Economic Difficulties and the Fate of Erdogan. journal-neo.org Turkey's economy is in freefall: the lira is falling, inflation is rising, and food prices are spiraling. The government has resorted to disinformation, lies, and conspiracy theories to deflect blame from itself and shift it to others. But the lower living standards of the common people and the country's future is unlikely to end the …

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