(2021-12-23). TPLF Announces Retreat. What Lies Ahead for Ethiopia? libya360.wordpress.com Elias Amare, editor of Horn of Africa TV, explains the situation in Ethiopia in light of the declaration by the TPLF that they are withdrawing to Tigray. He analyzes the situation over the past few months that led to this moment. The Tigray People's Liberation Front has announced that it will withdraw its forces to…
(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). Absurd Guardian article declares China world's only imperialist power. mronline.org 
Another cartoonishly ridiculous anti-China propaganda piece has been published in the western mass media, this time by The Guardian, which at this point could arguably be labeled the single most destructive promulgator of empire propaganda in the western world.
(2021-12-23). Frederick Douglass and American Empire in Haiti. mronline.org 
Toward the end of his life, Frederick Douglass served briefly as U.S. ambassador to Haiti. The disastrous episode reveals much about the country's long struggle for Black sovereignty while always under the threat of U.S. empire.
(2021-12-23). Structural Reforms Can Ease China's Transition to High-Quality Growth. moderndiplomacy.eu To achieve quality growth over the medium-term, China will need to rebalance its economy across several dimensions, according to Rebalancing Act, From Recovery to High-Quality Growth, the latest China Economic Update released today by the World Bank. Following a strong rebound in the first half of 2021, economic activity in China cooled rapidly in the …
(2021-12-23). Bourgeois Idealism & the Promotion of Anti-Intellectualism. mronline.org 
I know already as I'm writing this piece that it's not going to be a piece that's widely read and/or shared. I know this because I've written a number of pieces that have been read and shared by thousands.
(2021-12-23). Tom Engelhardt: Surviving Another Year in This Disturbed Country of Ours. scheerpost.com 
[ By Whether the pandemic that's swept the world started from In my neighborhood at least, as this year draws to a close, that old Lone…
(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). Nord Stream 2 is a double-edged geopolitical tool. mronline.org 
The undersea Nord Stream 2 pipeline has been built at a cost of $11 billion. But the Kremlin kept its thought to itself. We now know why.
(2021-12-23). àÅlvaro García Linera: The Central Command of the Latin American Right is the US, not Spain. orinocotribune.com The conservative command of the Latin American right is in the United States, not in Spain. Vox is small and clumsy. On the other hand, Washington promotes a series of basic values: market, individuality, institutionality against social convulsions and wealth as the goal of life, affirms àÅlvaro García Linera. | The vice president of the Plurinational State of Bolivia between 2006 and 2019 is one of the most prominent contemporary leftist intellectuals. His extensive and provocative intellectual production is the result of a political commitment that led him to imprisonment for seven years and of a solid th…
(2021-12-23). Working towards development and peace: Imperial and SDG 16. imperial.ac.uk Sustainable energy solutions for peacebuilding and supporting academics from at-risk areas: how Imperial is meeting Sustainable Development Goal 16.
(2021-12-23). The American deal with the popular decline in support of political Islam after Arab Spring revolutions. moderndiplomacy.eu Before answering this question, it is necessary to understand (the Brotherhood's grand strategy), which is based on the role of the international organization of the Muslim Brotherhood inside the United States of America, in Europe and around the world, through a strategy based on (the Brotherhood's penetration into the United States of America with its …
(2021-12-23). Libya: National Committee for Human Rights Warns of the Political and Humanitarian Consequences of Aborting Elections. libya360.wordpress.com Demonstrations in Libya protest…
(2021-12-23). Libya: Protests Mark the Postponement of Elections Amidst Threats of Deepening Chaos. libya360.wordpress.com Participants in the Friday of Salvation demand the overthrow of the existing political bodies A group of activists called on citizens to participate in a demonstration entitled "Friday of Salvation" in Tibesti Square in the city of Benghazi. Participants demand the overthrow of all political bodies currently in place, with parliament's work limited to legislative…
(2021-12-23). The Need for a Multidimensional Democracy. libya360.wordpress.com Javier Tolcachier Celebrating and reflecting are two actions that do not usually go hand in hand. Celebration implies an achievement, even if it is only the satisfaction of something well done, while reflection usually accompanies failure or error. Much more so in political terms, since it is not the euphoria of triumph but defeat that…
(2021-12-23). Mismeasuring progress: A critique of the growth paradigm. roarmag.org Cityscape of Johannesburg, South Africa in 2013. Photo: Nataly Reinch / Shutterstock.com | In recent years, more and more people have begun to question the received wisdom of "economic growth" — the idea that government policies can be measured a success or failure based on an increase in national income. Many, that is, except most economists. For them, growth is still the sacred benchmark on the road to development — for those countries deemed "undeveloped" — and something to be maintained and if possible expanded in all the OECD countries. | Governments follow suit and design their policies ar…
(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…
(2021-12-23). Tunisia likely to see more protests against president Saied's power grab. peoplesdispatch.org Over the last few months, Tunisian president Kais Saied has consolidated his control over the executive and legislative authority in the country. His latest action was to announce the formulation of a new constitution to be put to a national referendum next year followed by general elections…
(2021-12-23). UK blocks Venezuela from accessing its international reserves. peoplesdispatch.org Britain's Supreme Court passed a ruling to continue blocking Venezuela from accessing 31 tons of Venezuelan gold valued at USD 2 billion. This gold is deposited at the Bank of England. The case went to court because the Bank has refused to release the gold reserves to the Bolivarian government stating that it recognizes the opposition activist Juan Guaidó as a legitimate authority.
(2021-12-23). Pentagon Clamps Down on Extremism & White Supremacy After Dozens of Jan. 6 Rioters Had Military Ties. democracynow.org 
The Pentagon has announced new rules to slow the spread of extremism in the military, one of which will discipline soldiers for liking or resharing white nationalist and other extremist content on social media. The Pentagon announcement comes just two weeks before the first anniversary of the January 6 insurrection, where more than 80 of the 700 individuals charged with the attack had ties to the U.S. military. Director of the Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Project Susan Corke says these rule changes are welcomed by her organization but don't go far enough to stop extremism in the armed forces. "It sh…
(2021-12-23). What are the Fundamental Differences Between Capitalist and Socialist Democracy? orinocotribune.com By Danny Haiphong — Dec 20, 2021 | Staying true to the theme of democracy, this article is an amended speech that analyzes the differences between Capitalist vs. Socialist democracies and advocates a defense of the latter. | The United States hosted a "Summit for Democracy" on December 9th and 10th in an obvious attempt to legitimize its unipolar and hegemonic claim of leadership over the so-called "rules-based international order." While on the surface this appeared to be an unproductive move on the part of the world hegemon, it aligned well with the U.S. strategy of cloaking its aggressive and exploitative…
(2021-12-23). South African Hospitalization Rates Plunge Despite Omicron Onslaught: 'They Are At Very Low Levels'. moguldom.com The hospitalization rate of South Africans infected with the omicron variant is less than 80 percent compared to other variants of the disease, according to a study released by the country's National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD). Covid-19 infections in South Africa have spiked in the fourth wave of the pandemic after scientists identified the …
(2021-12-23). Australia's "National Cabinet" sets course for mass Omicron infections. wsws.org "Living with COVID-19 means living with COVID-variants," the meeting's communiqué declared.
(2021-12-23). Nigeria Destroys 1 Million Expired COVID-19 Vaccines. telesurenglish.net On Wednesday, Nigerian government destroyed over 1 million COVID-19 vaccines withdrawn from across the country after being identified for having a short shelf life. | RELATED: | The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) monitored the exercise at a dumpsite in a suburb of Abuja, the Nigerian capital. Authorities took the decision to join other African nations which earlier destroyed vaccines for the same reaso…
(2021-12-23). No One Is Safe Until Everyone Is Safe: Oxfam on Vaccine Equity & Taking On Moderna. democracynow.org 
Oxfam America has accused Moderna of misleading its investors about an ongoing dispute over whether it needs to share vaccine patent rights with the U.S. government. Oxfam filed a shareholders complaint against Moderna with the Securities and Exchange Commission over the company's resistance to recognizing the role played by three scientists with the National Institutes of Health in developing the vaccine. We speak with Robbie Silverman, senior corporate advocacy manager at Oxfam America, who says the federal government owns a right to license the vaccine to manufacturers. "It is simply not sufficient just to vac…
(2021-12-22). Harvard professor convicted over China & Wuhan university ties. rt.com 
The former head of Harvard University's chemistry department has been convicted for lying to authorities about his connections to China and the Wuhan Institute of Technology. | Professor Charles Lieber, 62, was found Lieber also aided…
(2021-12-22). China makes remarkable progress in gender equality, women empowerment. ecns.cn The average female life expectancy in China has exceeded 80 years, according to the report on China National Program for Women's Development (2011-2020) released by the country's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Tuesday.
(2021-12-22). Moscow reveals when Russia & US will hold crucial security talks. rt.com 
Russian and American negotiators will hold talks early next year on reducing the worsening tensions between Moscow and NATO, the two nations' top diplomats confirmed on Wednesday. | Speaking as part of an exclusive interview with RT, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the countries were planning to hold talks in January, confirming a statement his counterpart in Washington, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, had made to journalists the day before. | Asked about the US reaction to a series of security proposals put forward by Moscow earlier this month, Lavrov said, "Speaking about the real reaction, no…
(2021-12-22). Moscow reveals preparations for possible conflict. rt.com 
Russia does not want an armed conflict with Ukraine, but will continue to take steps to defend itself, Moscow's top diplomat has said, as Kiev claims Moscow could order an offensive against its neighbor. | Speaking on Wednesday in an exclusive interview with RT, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia "would not want to choose the path of confrontation," referring to tensions with Kiev. | He warned "hot heads" in Ukraine against military confrontation and said that Russia will respond to any provocations.However, the diplomat said that "the choice is up to our partners." | According to him, "the fact…
(2021-12-22). Canada: Wet'suwet'en Activists Retake Checkpoint a Month After Police Crackdown. libya360.wordpress.com Anish R M Wet'suwet'en activists after reclaiming Camp Coyote. Photo: Gidimt'en Checkpoint/Twitter Anti-pipeline Indigenous activists, resisting the contentious Coastal GasLink pipeline in Wet'suwet'en have retaken a checkpoint in Coyote Camp, a month after violent crackdown by federal police forces On Saturday, December 19, activists leading the Wet'suwet'en resistance against the Coastal GasLink (CGL) pipeline project…
(2021-12-22). Chris Hedges on the Persecution of Julian Assange (Video). scheerpost.com 
In July 2010, Wikileaks published Cablegate, one of the biggest leaks in the history of the US military, including evidence for war crimes and torture. Julian Assange, the founder and spokesman of Wikileaks, immediately found himself a target, accused of hacking, and later sexual assault. He spent the next seven years in asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, fearful that he would be extradited to Sweden to face the accusations of assault and then sent to US. In 2019, Assange was handed over to the British police. On the same day, the US demanded his extradition. He faces up to 175 years in prison for…
(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). 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). French Reunion's Piton de la Fournaise Volcano Shows Signs of Eruption. sputniknews.com PARIS (Sputnik) – Piton de la Fournaise, a volcano in the French overseas territory of Reunion in the Indian Ocean, has shown first signs of an eruption on Wednesday, the local volcanological observatory tweeted.
(2021-12-22). Tuesday 1/25: 46th Anniversary of United Native Americans Saves The American Indian Movement. indybay.org 165 22nd Street | Richmond, CA 94801…
(2021-12-22). Minister swims for 12 hours after chopper crashes into ocean. rt.com 
Madagascar's secretary of state for police was forced to swim for around 12 hours back to shore after a helicopter surveying a shipwreck off the island's northeast coast plunged into the ocean. | Serge Gelle had been on a helicopter with others as part of an effort to inspect the site of a shipwreck that occurred on Monday when a wooden vessel sank in the Indian Ocean. | However, the aircraft plummeted into the ocean 12 hours from shore, forcing the minister to make the treacherous and challenging swim back to dry land in a bid for survival. | Gelle, 57, was filmed shortly after returning to Madagascar's mainl…
(2021-12-22). Iran, India agree to increase freight traffic via Chabahar. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 22 (MNA) — India has agreed to increase its freight transit through Iran to help more traffic pass via the strategic port of Chabahar, the Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Rostam Ghasemi.
(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). 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). Pakistani MP Rejects Claim a Hindu Woman in Viral Video Was Targeted Because of Her Religion. sputniknews.com Since its independence, Pakistan has been grappling with the problem of persecution of its religious minorities, including Hindus and Sikhs by Islamists. While Hindus made up more than 23 percent of Pakistan's population in 1947, they now comprise only 2 percent of the population.
(2021-12-22). Archie and I: a Third World story. mronline.org 
Vijay Prashad recalls his early encounters with the struggle for national liberation, and the work of Archie Singham, an important intellectual in the latter part of that sequence of struggle.
(2021-12-22). Destruction of the Soviet Union: a Crime Without Statute of Limitations. orinocotribune.com 
Statement of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the United Communist Party of Russia (OKP) in connection with the 30th anniversary of the unconstitutional liquidation of the USSR in December 1991. | In December 1991, the largest state on the planet, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the first ever socialist state of workers and peasants, disappeared from the political map of the world. | In the context of the general crisis of Gorbachev's "perestroika" policy, few people paid attention to the blatant violation of all conceivable and inconceivable constitutional procedures during the "dissolution" of…
(2021-12-22). U.S. maneuvers amidst more disasters for the Haitian people. workers.org 
Remains of fuel explosion in Cap-HaàØtien, Dec. 13 Washington extended Temporary Protective Status for Haitians for another 18 months, because conditions in Haiti are so miserable. Despite this the U.S. government is still actively deporting Haitians back to Haiti, flying them into either the airport at Cap-HaàØtien or Port-au-Prince. According . . . |
(2021-12-22). Building Community, One Fruit Tree at a Time. otherwords.org Some years ago, a young, hippyish couple knocked on my front door. They had noticed that I had fig trees in the yard, laden with summer fruit. If I wasn't going to pick them all, they asked, could they harvest some figs? | Since I was about to take a trip, I said: Sure, have at 'em. | Upon my return, as I stood at the door fumbling for my keys, I looked down — and there were two jars of delicious fig jam awaiting me. | A little common neighborliness can be deeply enriching, in so many ways. | I remembered my happy fig exchange recently when I read that a fast-growing, underground fruit economy is spreading…
(2021-12-22). The Only Epidemic That Has Corporations Worried. otherwords.org Get a full-res version
(2021-12-22). Affordable Child Care Is the Boost Our Economy Needs. otherwords.org Child care is one of the biggest expenses many families face — in much of the country, it can run higher than college tuition. Could a national child care program ease that burden? | We've come close before. During World War II, the federal government provided child care around the clock to enable more women to work in the war industries. In 1971, we nearly got a national child care program until President Richard Nixon vetoed legislation that had strong bipartisan support. | Now, with Senator Joe Manchin stalling President Biden's Build Back Better Act, we could be on the brink of another disappointment. O…
(2021-12-22). In OtherWords: December 22, 2021. otherwords.org If you're the kind of person who reads our op-eds each week, chances are you're feeling a little beat up at the end of the year — from the constant rush of political news, the pandemic that just won't quit, or, as Sam Pizzigati writes in his column about Amazon this week, that ominous intersection of climate disasters, extreme inequality, and workplace injustice. | But for the rest of our package this week, I wanted to take a look at good things that happened this year — and the good we might see in the year to come. | This week in OtherWords, I look both at home and abroad for inspiring stories of pr…
(2021-12-22). Tornadoes Can Kill. So Can Amazon's Business Model. otherwords.org Old-school home-improvement contractors have a piece of folk wisdom they love to share with prospective clients. "Listen," they like to say. "I can do this job fast, I can do it cheap, or I can do it well. But I can't do all three." | This wisdom has been around forever. But not everyone gets it — take billionaire Jeff Bezos. His Amazon empire prides itself on delivering good results fast and cheap. | That works well enough for Bezos, now worth around $200 billion. And Amazon consumers, the company PR maintains, can get almost whatever they want quickly and cheaply. But for Amazon workers — and our br…
(2021-12-22). 'We have to become emancipators'. workers.org 
These slightly edited remarks were made by recently freed political prisoner, Jalil Muntaqim, during a Dec. 9 webinar to mark the 40th anniversary arrest of Mumia Abu-Jamal and to demand his freedom. By Jalil Muntaqim On October 25, international jurists at the Spirit of Mandela Tribunal found the United . . . |
(2021-12-22). Ellen Brown: The Real Antidote to Inflation. scheerpost.com 
[ By The Federal Reserve is caught between a rock and a hard place. Inflation grew by 6.8% in November, the