Mehr News Agency (2020-12-12). 90 members of Taliban killed in Afghan's Kandahar prov. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 12 (MNA) — Afghanistan Ministry of Defense in a statement on Saturday announced that 90 members of Taliban were killed in the past 24 hours in Kandahar province.

Editor (2020-12-12). America Is Contributing to Iran's Shocking Covid-19 Death Toll. scheerpost.com Farhad Babaei/ Magnus News] By Juan Cole / Informed Comment The US financial and trade blockade of Iran, which has strangled its economy, has also taken a heavy toll on the country's coronavirus response. Nick Paton Walsh, Jo Shelley, Ramin Mostaghim and Scott McWhinnie at CNN did a great story on this heartrending travesty. They write, "Retired teacher Khalif Farahani struggles to speak… |

Sean Callebs (2020-12-12). The Heat: China Economic Strategy. america.cgtn.com Policy, pandemic and politics are on the agenda as Chinese leaders get set to meet to chart the way forward.

Qiao Collective (2020-12-12). Qiao Collective on challenging U.S. aggression on China, the role of the Western left. mronline.org On the domestic front, the U.S. propaganda machine mostly works instead to position China as this great, menacing oriental Other. We've seen this during the COVID-19 pandemic in Trump's rhetoric about the "China virus" and in Biden's attempts at one-upmanship.

_____ (2020-12-12). Now In Print And Available: 'Capitalism On A Ventilator'. popularresistance.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 U.S. establishment toward China, and the accompanying surge in anti-Asian racism, it was an enormous challenge to find printers and distributors for this book. | The chapters include articles by many published authors, including: Ajamu Baraka, Monica Moorehead, Mumia Abu-Jamal…

Jonathan Cook (2020-12-12). Antisemitism claims mask a reign of political and cultural terror across Europe. zcomm.org What we see here is an illustration of a principle at the heart of Israel's state ideology of Zionism: Israel needs antisemitism. Israel would quite literally have to invent antisemitism if it did not exist…

Richard Falk (2020-12-12). Qatar: Between the Scylla of Coercion and the Charybdis of Accommodation: an inquiry into sub-regional geopolitics. zcomm.org Responses to Interview Questions on Sub-Regional Geopolitics in the Persian/Arab Gulf countries, Qods News Agency, 10 Dec 2020…

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 …

Juan Cole (2020-12-11). How US Sanctions Have Contributed to the 50K Dead of Coronavirus In Iran. commondreams.org Iran suffers the worst pandemic outbreak in the Middle East. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/coronavirus_3.jpg …

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.

WSWS (2020-12-11). Sri Lankan president calls on companies to exploit pandemic for cost-cutting. wsws.org Rajapakse's speech underscores the necessity for the working class to undertake a political fight on a socialist program against this big business government.

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 …

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. . . . |

RT (2020-12-11). 'Serious escalation': Pompeo claims Iran would be closer to nuclear WEAPONS with new uranium enrichment bill. rt.com US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has warned that Iran could be a step closer to obtaining nukes if it enriches uranium at a higher purity and continues to frustrate international efforts to search its nuclear sites. | "A reduction in Iran's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) or enrichment to the 20 percent level would constitute a serious escalation that moves Iran closer to the ability to obtain a nuclear weapon," he said in a statement on Friday. | Last week Iranian MPs passed a new law, requiring the country to "produce and store 120kg per year of uranium enriched to 20 percent"

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…

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 . . . |

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

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…

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.

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 (left), shaking hands with then-Israeli premier Menachem Begin in front of US president Jimmy Carter, became in 1979 the first Arab country to forma…

MEE staff (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 the par…

Ralph Nader (2020-12-11). Go Vote Yourself a Raise, Georgia — You've Long Earned It. counterpunch.org All political eyes are on Georgia's runoff election on January 5th, 2021. Two Senate seats are up for grabs and will decide whether the evil Trumpster and corporatist Senator Mitch McConnell stays in total control of the U.S. Senate or not. If the Democrats win both seats, the Senate would be split, 50-50. Vice President

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 …

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

Brett Wilkins, staff writer (2020-12-11). Trump Deal to Trade Occupied Western Sahara for Morocco Normalizing Ties With Israel Denounced Worldwide. commondreams.org "Only the people of Western Sahara can decide their own future as they have an inalienable right to self-determination recognized by the U.N.," said one Sahrawi official. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/women_1.jpg …

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…

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…

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 …

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 …

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 …

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

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.

Tony Kevin (2020-12-11). How Australia Sabotaged Its Own Interests in Relations 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.

L. Ali Khan (2020-12-11). Pukr: Palestinians, Uighurs, Kashmiris and Rohingyas. counterpunch.org Pukr (rhymes with cutter) is a common word in several South Asian languages, including Urdu, Hindi, Sindhi, Gujrati, and Punjabi. Written as پکڑ in Urdu, pukr means to nab, capture, snatch and seize. The antonyms for pukr are to release, liberate, return. Broadly interpreted, pukr is associated with siege, humiliation, home raids, loss of liberty,

Miles Mogulescu (2020-12-11). Want to Defund the Police? Then Vote for Loeffler and Perdue in Georgia Senate Run-Off Race. commondreams.org When police (and teachers and firefighters and other essential state and local government workers) are defunded and fired in the next few months, blame it on Republicans like Purdue and Loeffler. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/georgia_0.jpg …

sputniknews (2020-12-11). 'Build an Inclusive Government': Asian Americans Urge for More Representation in Biden's Cabinet. sputniknews.com Projected US President-elect Joe Biden is currently in the process of assembling his Cabinet. Over the past week, Biden announced Denis McDonough as his pick for secretary of veterans affairs, Tom Vilsack for agriculture secretary and Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH) as secretary of housing and urban development.

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…

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 …

Julia Conley, staff writer (2020-12-11). In Just 'Two-Ish Minutes,' AOC Details Progressive Accomplishments From First Two Years in Office. commondreams.org Often accused of being ineffective by conservatives and centrists, the congresswoman highlighted her work passing legislation, serving her constituents, and leading House investigations into corruption and fraud. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/screen_shot_2020-12-11_at_3.14.50_pm.png …

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

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 . . . |

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…

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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