(2022-01-08). 'Risk of conflict is real' — NATO chief. rt.com 
NATO boss says the alliance is ready to negotiate with Russia, but does not rule out a 'conflict' | NATO is open to hearing Moscow's concerns, the bloc's head Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday. However, he added that any moves to reduce Ukraine tensions must be reciprocal, and not undermine the European "security order." | NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg explained the bloc's approach to negotiations with Russia during a press conference on Friday, following an extraordinary meeting of the member states' foreign ministers. | The alliance's boss squarely blamed the deteriorating relations and tensions arou…
(2022-01-08). Thursday 1/6: National Prayer Call: From Insurrection to Resurrection w/ Poor People's Campaign. indybay.org Online event…
(2022-01-08). India reports first Omicron death as daily infections surge past 100,000. wsws.org Despite a sudden and massive rise in cases, the Indian government is not ready to enforce a lockdown to break the chain of COVID-19 infections.
(2022-01-08). An open letter to all South Asian workers: The pandemic must be ended and lives saved in 2022! wsws.org In terms of its cost in human lives, the pandemic ranks among the greatest tragedies in the history of South Asia and in particular India.
(2022-01-08). Workers Struggles: Asia and New Zealand. wsws.org India: Tamil Nadu sanitation workers protest outsourcing of jobs; Kerala government doctors protest pay anomalies; New Zealand casino workers strike on New Year's Eve…
(2022-01-08). Iranian, Indian FMs discuss bilateral ties, Vienna talks. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jan. 08 (MNA) — Indian Foreign Minister held a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart on Saturday to discuss bilateral issues, prospects of Chabahar port, latest developments in Afghanistan and Vienna talks.
(2022-01-08). There is nothing wrong with Helen Mirren playing Golda Meir. rt.com 
Should an actor's religion or ethnicity matter when they play a role? Well according to British screen legend Dame Maureen Lipman, it should. She has criticised the casting of fellow British acting icon Dame Helen Mirren as former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir in the upcoming Hollywood biopic, In an interview given to the Jewish Chronicle, Lipman, who is herself Jewish, called out the casting of Mirren as Golda Meir…
(2022-01-08). Chris Hedges and Mark Rudd Discuss Self Destructive Forces on the Left. scheerpost.com 
The Weather Underground, a clandestine revolutionary organization that carried out a wave of bombings in the 1970s, was seen by Hedges' father and other clergy members who were involved in Vietnam anti-war protests as one of the most self-destructive forces on the left. These members of the clergy, many of whom, including Hedges' father, were World War II veterans, had often became ministers because of their experiences in the war. They understood the poison of violence. One of the most prominent leaders of Clergy and Laymen Concerned About Vietnam (CALCAV), to which Hedges' father belonged, was the Catholi…
(2022-01-08). Mom brings child to Covid-testing site in car trunk. rt.com 
A high-school teacher has been accused of felony child endangerment after taking drastic measures to avoid catching the coronavirus from her son | Texas police are looking for a high-school English teacher after she allegedly locked her Covid-19 positive child in a car trunk to limit exposure on the way to a testing facility. | An arrest warrant for felony child endangerment was issued for Sarah Beam, 42, on Friday after her 13-year-old son was discovered in the car trunk at Houston's Pridgeon Stadium Covid-19 testing center this week. | Bevin Gordon, the health services director for the local independent scho…
(2022-01-08). Man bursts into flames after being tasered. rt.com 
A police officer's stun gun appeared to react with flammable hand sanitizer, which a suspect had doused himself with during an aggressive encounter | The New York Attorney General's office has released footage of a man who burst into flames after he was tasered by police, as part of its investigation into the man's eventual death nearly two months after the incident. | In the October 30 surveillance
(2022-01-08). 'Free speech' platform accused of censoring critics. rt.com 
A popular 'free speech' social network has faced repeated allegations of censorship, with many users expressing concern over its links to a Chinese billionaire | Gettr, a conservative free speech Twitter alternative led by a former adviser to ex-US President Donald Trump, has been accused of censoring users who criticize the platform and one of its backers. | The site — which has managed to draw users as big as podcast host Joe Rogan with its free speech claims — sparked accusations of hypocrisy after it banned several users, including controversial right-wing political commentator Nick Fuentes. | Fu…
(2022-01-08). Biden assesses future of Covid-19 'new normal'. rt.com 
The US president weighed in on whether the coronavirus will ever be contained | President Joe Biden said he believes the "new normal" brought by the Covid-19 outbreak will eventually let up, offering some optimism about the pandemic while arguing the US is already in a much better place than it was in 2021. | "Covid as we are dealing with it now is not going to stay," Biden told reporters on Friday, adding that the US has "so many more tools we are developing and continue to develop" to suppress the virus. | The president argued that the US is currently in a better position compared to last year, with 90% of s…
(2022-01-08). Australian state government considers forcing unvaccinated COVID patients to pay for hospital care. wsws.org Unvaccinated persons, currently less than 6 percent of adults in NSW, are being scapegoated for large outbreaks, with claims that they are taking up a disproportionate amount of healthcare resources.
(2022-01-08). US pressure mounts over Solomon Islands' relations with China. wsws.org A Wall Street Journal editorial reminded its readers of the 1942 Battle of Guadalcanal, which, it stated, "proved the critical importance of the Solomon Islands for Pacific security."
(2022-01-08). Moscow, Beijing, Washington frame opponents as 'foreign agents'. themilitant.com As they deepen their assaults on working people and political rights, the regimes in Moscow and Beijing are trying to silence political opponents by smearing them as "foreign agents." Washington condemns these two rivals for repression, but has used the very same smears to target and frame up working-class organizations at home. | On Dec. 28, Russia's Supreme Court ordered the closing of Memorial International, a long-standing rights organization that has chronicled decades of Stalinist political repression in the Soviet Union. Its archives hold tens of thousands of documents, books and artwork by prisoners spann…
(2022-01-08). Tuesday 1/18: National Day of Racial Healing – California State Capitol. indybay.org California State Capitol | Sacramento, CA…
(2022-01-08). Squid Game and the survival drama genre. wsws.org While Squid Game presents a unique twist on the effort to represent capitalism as a fight to the death, it is only the most recent example of an international genre that began in the US in the 1970s.
(2022-01-08). Saudi official holds meeting with US envoy in Vienna. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jan. 08 (MNA) — Saudi news sources reported that Saudi representatives in international organizations based in Vienna Abdullah bin Khalid met and held talks with the US Special Representative for Iran Robert Malley on Friday.
(2022-01-08). Iran to export 110-MW electricity to Afghanistan: official. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jan. 08 (MNA) — A senior advisor to Iran's Minister of Energy for International Affairs said that the country will export 110 megawatts of electricity to neighboring Afghanistan in the current year.
(2022-01-08). Educators and parents denounce UK education unions over unsafe schools. wsws.org The National Education Union has worked to keep schools open throughout the pandemic. It now makes the lying claim that it organised the mobilisation of teachers and shutdown of schools last January, at the height of the pandemic.
(2022-01-08). [Correspondence] Strengthening the reporting of stillbirths globally. thelancet.com In their excellent Article, Lucia Hug and colleagues1 systematically assessed about two decades of stillbirth estimates acquired from national administrative records of 195 countries and report an alarming trend that demands expeditious action, if the Every Newborn Action Plan target of reducing stillbirths to fewer than 12 per 1000 is to be achieved by 2030.2…
(2022-01-08). [Correspondence] Strengthening the reporting of stillbirths globally — Authors' reply. thelancet.com We appreciate the comments by Olga Joos and colleagues, in response to our Article,1 on prioritising stillbirth reporting and registration within civil registration and vital statistics system strengthening efforts. Improving data collection and data quality in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) is key since far too many of these countries have very scarce or no quality data on stillbirths. Integrating stillbirths in the vital registration process will allow us to produce better and more timely estimates of the risk of stillbirth and analyse inequities at the subnational level.
(2022-01-08). Iran Mission to UN reacts to US newspaper's hostile article. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jan. 08 (MNA) — In reaction to an article published by an American newspaper, Iran Permanent Mission to UN said that encouraging leaders to initiate war, amid serious diplomatic talks, are in violation of the principles of International Law.
(2022-01-07). Kazakh president claims constitutional order 'mainly restored'. rt.com 
State forces continuing "anti-terror" operations & authorities again "in control" of situation, Tokayev insists | Kazakhstan's security forces have been able to restore law and order in most parts of the country following days of unprecedented violent unrest, its president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev claimed on Friday morning. | "Constitutional order has been mainly restored in all regions of the country. Local authorities are in control of the situation," Tokayev said, adding that an anti-terrorist operation has been launched and law enforcement agencies are "working hard." | The president also authorized the use…
(2022-01-07). Order 'mainly restored,' dozens killed & Baikonur terror threat level raised: Latest developments in Kazakhstan. rt.com 
The sixth day of crisis in Kazakhstan saw some stabilization as peacekeeping forces supported local security services | Constitutional order was "mainly restored" in Kazakhstan on Friday, according to president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. However, the spate of unrest is seemingly far from over, with almost 4,000 people detained and dozens killed. | Mass protests in Kazakhstan began on January 2, prompted by public discontent with a sharp increase in prices for liquefied petroleum gas. The unrest quickly spread, turning violent in some places, including the largest city; the former capital Almaty. | Security forces…
(2022-01-07). Kazakh president claims constitutional order 'mainly restored'. rt.com State forces continuing "anti-terror" operations & authorities again "in control" of situation, Tokayev insists | Kazakhstan's security forces have been able to restore law and order in most parts of the country following days of unprecedented violent unrest, its president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev claimed on Friday morning. | "Constitutional order has been mainly restored in all regions of the country. Local authorities are in control of the situation," Tokayev said, adding that an anti-terrorist operation has been launched and law enforcement agencies are "working hard." | The president also authorized the use…
(2022-01-07). Kazakh president authorizes use of lethal force against protesters 'without warning'. rt.com 
The head of state rules out any negotiations with those he calls "terrorists" | Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced on Friday that he has given permission for law enforcement agents to use lethal force to quell the unrest that has engulfed the country since the new year. | "I have given an order to the law enforcement and military to shoot to kill without warning," Tokayev announced on Friday. | The president has rejected the idea of resolving the ongoing crisis through negotiations. "It's nonsense. What kind of talks can one have with criminals and murderers?" he insisted. | Kazakhstan is facing…
(2022-01-07). Crude rally continues amid Kazakhstan turmoil. rt.com 
Escalating tensions in the former Soviet state, together with Libyan outages, send futures surging | Global prices for crude oil saw a sharp increase on Thursday, extending the gains recorded during the previous session, as bloody unrest continues to sweep Kazakhstan, an OPEC+ oil producer. | The global benchmark Brent crude futures rose 0.38% to $82.30 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures also gained 0.38% to trade at $79.76 per barrel. Both contracts were trading at their highest since late November. | The latest increase comes as Kazakhstan — the second-largest oil producer in the…
(2022-01-07). 'Coincidence?' US, Foreign NGOs May Have Played Key Role in Social Unrest in Kazakhstan, Expert Says. sputniknews.com WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – Generous funding from international non-government organizations (NGOs) and the US government has played a key role in the social unrest that has gripped Kazakhstan in recent days, Executive Vice President of Eurasia Group Earl Rasmussen told Sputnik on Friday.
(2022-01-07). Why did Russia-led military bloc intervene in Kazakhstan? rt.com 
Five CSTO allies sent peacekeeping forces at Nur-Sultan's request as it deals with mass unrest | A peacekeeping mission of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has been deployed to Kazakhstan as the nation struggles to control street violence. Here are the goals and the scope of the multinational mission. | What is the CSTO, exactly? | The security bloc, which is made up of six former Soviet states — Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan — was formed in 1992, following the collapse of the Soviet Union. With the Red Army consigned to history, the CSTO took on t…
(2022-01-07). Kazakh president authorizes use of lethal force against protesters 'without warning'. rt.com The head of state rules out any negotiations with those he calls "terrorists" | Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced on Friday that he has given permission for law enforcement agents to use lethal force to quell the unrest that has engulfed the country since the new year. | "I have given an order to the law enforcement and military to shoot to kill without warning," Tokayev announced on Friday. | The president has rejected the idea of resolving the ongoing crisis through negotiations. "It's nonsense. What kind of talks can one have with criminals and murderers?" he insisted. | Kazakhstan is facing…
(2022-01-07). Crude rally continues amid Kazakhstan turmoil. rt.com Escalating tensions in the former Soviet state, together with Libyan outages, send futures surging | Global prices for crude oil saw a sharp increase on Thursday, extending the gains recorded during the previous session, as bloody unrest continues to sweep Kazakhstan, an OPEC+ oil producer. | The global benchmark Brent crude futures rose 0.38% to $82.30 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures also gained 0.38% to trade at $79.76 per barrel. Both contracts were trading at their highest since late November. | The latest increase comes as Kazakhstan — the second-largest oil producer in the…
(2022-01-07). Kazakh President Tokayev Orders to Open Fire on Terrorists Without Any Warning. sputniknews.com According to Kazakh authorities, several National Guard officers were killed, and over 200 were wounded amid mass riots that hit the country over the week.
(2022-01-07). 'Father of Kazakh hip-hop' shot dead. rt.com 
Film director and musician was killed by gunfire during protests as looters tried to hijack a car he was in | Influential Kazakh hip-hop artist Saken Bitayev has been killed in the city of Almaty amid unrest that has engulfed the country for a week. A friend confirmed his death in a Facebook post. | On Friday, Daniyar Adilbekov "Yesterday in Almaty robbers shot my friend Saken Bitayev. The bullet struc…
(2022-01-07). Is Putin set on conquering Europe at any cost? rt.com 
By imagining Russia to be uniquely evil, Western commentators misread its every move | The new year has begun in much the same way as the old one ended: with predictions that Russia could invade Ukraine before the snow melts. Behind these as-yet-unfulfilled prophecies, however, are some fairly shaky assumptions. | There are two factors behind any potential threat: capability and intention. There is little doubt that Russia has at its disposal the military force required to invade Ukraine. The question is whether it intends to do so. Underpinning the widespread belief that it does is an assumption that Russia i…
(2022-01-07). Tariq Ali: 'Democracy is largely a set of rituals now'. mronline.org 
"There is no socialist blueprint. If you think there is a socialist blueprint, then you will only be a utopian. The formation of economic policies has to be done with the collaboration of those on whose behalf you are going to change structures."
(2022-01-07). Tariq Ali: 'Democracy is largely a set of rituals now'. mronline.org "There is no socialist blueprint. If you think there is a socialist blueprint, then you will only be a utopian. The formation of economic policies has to be done with the collaboration of those on whose behalf you are going to change structures."
(2022-01-07). The U.S. Makes a Mockery of Treaties and International Law. independentmediainstitute.org U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other members of the Biden Cabinet are fond of proclaiming the "rules-based international order" (RBIO) or "rules-based order" every chance they get: in press conferences, on interviews, in articles, at international fora, for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and cocktails. Along with the terms "human rights" and "democracy," the RBIO …
(2022-01-07). The Highest Attainable Standard of Health Is a Fundamental Right. zcomm.org Countries such as the United States and India were hit hard because their public health infrastructure had been weakened and their private health systems were simply not capable of managing a crisis of this proportion…
(2022-01-07). The highest attainable standard of health is a fundamental right of every human being: The First Newsletter (2022). mronline.org 
As we enter the new year almost two years after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared a pandemic on 11 March 2020, the official death toll from COVID-19 sits just below 5.5 million people.
(2022-01-07). Armed Terrorist Arrested by Venezuelan Authorities at Colombia Border. orinocotribune.com 
This Thursday, January 6, Venezuelan authorities reported the arrest of a terrorist drug trafficker from Colombian paramilitary and seizure of weapons and explosives from him near the border with Colombia. | Through Twitter, the Operational Strategic Commander of the Bolivarian National Armed Force (CEOFANB) of Venezuela, Domingo Hernández Lárez, announced that the Venezuelan Army captured an armed member of a Colombian Drug Trafficking Terrorist groups (TANCOL), as labeled by Venezuelan security agencies. | La
(2022-01-07). What Biden did not say in his national address on the January 6 coup attempt. wsws.org The principle that governs national presidential addresses is to avoid saying what must not be said. The purpose of the speech was not to expose the truth of what took place on January 6, 2021 but to deflect and obfuscate. The real truth can only be extracted by reviewing what Biden did not say.
(2022-01-07). Azerbaijan's military to participate in over 30 multinational exercises this year. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Azerbaijani servicemen to join over 30 int'l drills in 2022 Azerbaijani servicemen will participate in over 30 international drills and competitions in the 2022 academic year, the Defence Ministry reported on January 6. *** Azerbaijan periodically holds drills to improve its military personnel's combat readiness. *** Furthermore, in 2021 Azerbaijani, Turkish and Pakistani special forces …
(2022-01-07). What Biden did not say in his national address on the January 6 coup attempt. wsws.org The principle that governs national presidential addresses is to avoid saying what must not be said. The purpose of the speech was not to expose the truth of what took place on January 6, 2021 but to deflect and obfuscate. The real truth can only be extracted by reviewing what Biden did not say.
(2022-01-07). Azerbaijan's military to participate in over 30 multinational exercises this year. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Azerbaijani servicemen to join over 30 int'l drills in 2022 Azerbaijani servicemen will participate in over 30 international drills and competitions in the 2022 academic year, the Defence Ministry reported on January 6. *** Azerbaijan periodically holds drills to improve its military personnel's combat readiness. *** Furthermore, in 2021 Azerbaijani, Turkish and Pakistani special forces …
(2022-01-07). Thursday 1/6: National Prayer Call: From Insurrection to Resurrection w/ Poor People's Campaign. indybay.org Online event…
(2022-01-07). Culprits behind Capitol insurrection still not brought to justice. peoplesdispatch.org Trump and his followers had propagated numerous false claims stating that the 2020 elections were stolen from them by means of electoral fraud, rigging of voting machines, and an international communist conspiracy.
(2022-01-07). Thousands of Indian Muslims Protest Against Genocide Calls by Hindu Activists – Video. sputniknews.com Last month, Hindu religious leaders gathered in Haridwar, a holy city in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, for three days. They called for violence against Muslims. Police registered cases against some of the hatemongers only after public outrage.
(2022-01-07). Study: India May See 1 Million COVID Cases Daily by End of January. sputniknews.com Since the end of December, India has been witnessing a continuous rise in COVID-19 cases. On Friday morning, the country reported 117,100 new cases and 302 deaths due to the virus. This is the first time in seven months that daily cases have crossed the 100,000 mark in the country.
(2022-01-07). Study: India May See 1 Million COVID Cases Daily by End of January. sputniknews.com Since the end of December, India has been witnessing a continuous rise in COVID-19 cases. On Friday morning, the country reported 117,100 new cases and 302 deaths due to the virus. This is the first time in seven months that daily cases have crossed the 100,000 mark in the country.