(2021-12-24). Ethiopia: Historic Battle for the Mother of Africa. dissidentvoice.org The outrage felt by Ethiopians at the Western-backed terrorist attack on their country is spreading across the Horn of Africa and parts of the continent more widely. A great movement of solidarity is emerging as Ethiopia's neighbors, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan, Kenya join hands, standing together against terror, imperial interference and mainstream media lies and misinformation. …
(2021-12-24). Edward Snowden, Glenn Greenwald & Chris Hedges on NSA Leaks, Assange & Protecting a Free Internet. democracynow.org 
NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Glenn Greenwald and Chris Hedges discuss mass surveillance, government secrecy, internet freedom and U.S. attempts to extradite and prosecute WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. They spoke together on a panel moderated by Amy Goodman at the virtual War on Terror Film Festival after a screening of "Citizenfour" — the Oscar-winning documentary about Snowden by Laura Poitras.
(2021-12-24). Doctors call for Julian Assange's immediate release. wsws.org Doctors for Assange delivered an open letter to Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, imploring him to seek the WikiLeaks founder's release on medical grounds.
(2021-12-24). CEPR Spotlight: Revolving Door Project. cepr.net Late last year, Politico described the Revolving Door Project's Executive Director Jeff Hauser as "the thorn in the Biden transition's side" for trying to push the Biden administration to reject standard, corporate-friendly, revolving door appointees in favor of those who would zealously fight for the broad public interest. In 2021, RDP has only become thornier …
(2021-12-24). Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa. wsws.org Riot police use stun guns against occupation of Kavali Oil plant by Greek workers; Romanian miners hold wildcat strike to demand early retirement and rail workers walk out spontaneously over pay; teachers demonstrate across Iran in 120 cities over wages, conditions and state repression; strike by South African Clover food workers against pay, conditions and job cuts enters second month…
(2021-12-24). Currency market turmoil impoverishes millions of Turkish workers. wsws.org The eruption of class battles is inevitable, as government measures in the interest of the financial aristocracy worsen the plight of millions of workers.
(2021-12-24). What the resumption of student loan repayments will mean for millions of young people. wsws.org Students are outraged at scheduled resumption of loan payment as US Department of Education tells them to prepare for loan repayment restart.
(2021-12-24). UK: Stuart delivery drivers in Sheffield strike into third week, spark action in other cities. wsws.org The potential for a national strike against Stuart is shown by the fact that the action in Sheffield has sparked similar walkouts in other cities. Delivery workers in Huddersfield and Blackpool have taken five days of strike action with workers in Sunderland carrying out a few hours' stoppage to stage a protest.
(2021-12-24). After Sterling Heights Assembly worker and husband die of suspected COVID-19, Stellantis management announces plant will run through Christmas Eve. wsws.org The provocative announcement of Christmas Eve shifts comes at the end of a "critical status" period in the plant, where workers were forced to work for 90 consecutive days to make up for lost production at the plant due to widespread supply chain problems.
(2021-12-24). "We have no way further to retreat," says Putin, as NATO escalates military build-up on Russia's borders. wsws.org The Russian president warned his country would "react harshly" to further aggressive moves by NATO.
(2021-12-24). Australian court refuses to reinstate sacked Qantas ground staff. wsws.org The Federal Court ruled that the airline would not have to reemploy over 2,000 ground staff whose jobs were outsourced last year.
(2021-12-24). California nurse Elizabeth gives testimony for the Global Workers' Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic. wsws.org In this interview, Elizabeth speaks on her experiences and those of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
(2021-12-24). Former Minnesota police Officer Kim Potter found guilty in shooting death of Daunte Wright. wsws.org Potter, the police officer who shot and killed Wright during a traffic stop on April 11 in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, was found guilty by a 12-person jury of first- and second-degree manslaughter.
(2021-12-24). Podemos leader Yolanda Diaz admits she covered up danger from COVID-19. wsws.org As the COVID-19 pandemic began, Podemos ministers knew the Spanish government was massively downplaying the danger from the disease but kept their mouths shut.
(2021-12-24). Urgent action is necessary to stop viral transmission, save lives and end the pandemic. wsws.org The Zero COVID strategy must be implemented in every country, aimed at progressively stopping human-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in ever-broader geographic regions until the virus is eliminated globally.
(2021-12-24). "My campaign is spearheading a fightback": Victimised London bus driver David O'Sullivan's hearing set for January. wsws.org Metroline bus company sacked O'Sullivan after he warned colleagues about the spread of COVID-19 at Cricklewood bus garage in northwest London.
(2021-12-24). A reply to President Biden from California health care workers: "No, the country is not better prepared for COVID than last year!" wsws.org We issue this blunt warning to workers and the general public: The hospital system is worse off now than it was in March 2020. We have been worn to the bone after two years of the pandemic.
(2021-12-24). An intensive care physician's report to the Global Workers' Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic. wsws.org The physician's report clearly shows the ongoing physical and psychological strains for those working in intensive care and why the path to the elimination of COVID-19 can only proceed via the independent mobilisation of the working class.
(2021-12-24). Foxconn forced to close key Indian facility after worker protest over mass food poisoning. wsws.org Hundreds of workers had to be treated for vomiting, diarrhoea and dizziness after eating their evening meal in a company-provided canteen.
(2021-12-24). Explosion and fire at ExxonMobil refinery east of Houston. wsws.org Authorities reported at least four people had been injured in the fire.
(2021-12-24). Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. journal-neo.org 
The last year was marked by a number of important events that NEO's been covering daily due to the valiant effort of all of our authors. The rapid growth in the number of terrorist attacks and the ongoing armed conflicts — that is the outcome of the short-sighted policies employed by certain countries and Wahhabi states. The "New Eastern Outlook" …
(2021-12-24). Erdogan is Actively Trying to Score Points in Africa. journal-neo.org 
Amid growing accusations against the Turkish government and calls for early presidential and parliamentary elections from the local population due to the intensifying domestic crisis in Turkey in recent days, there has been a surge in publications in the West about the impending power transition in Turkey. Thus, American edition Foreign Policy says that even …
(2021-12-24). Antony Blinken Visited the South-East Asian Region Yet Again. journal-neo.org 
Another tour, started on December 9 by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, may have been unprecedented since he took office, both in terms of the number of countries visited and the breadth of topics that were supposed to be discussed with foreign colleagues. The plan was for the trip to include three phases: a stop …
(2021-12-24). Santa Claus rueful at imminent Christmas in India. moderndiplomacy.eu Ahead of Christmas, Indian police raided a shishu bhavan (infant house or orphanage) in Kolcatta (West Bengal) and another at Vdodra (Gujarat), Indian prime minister's home state. The Kolkatta orphanage was established by Mother Teresa herself, and was being run by the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata since February11, 2014. The raiding police claimed that …
(2021-12-24). Benedetta: A "Provocative" Film that Demythologizes Religion. dissidentvoice.org 
Relatively recently we criticized Man of God as a film that obscures reality and, by deifying religious feeling, could lead those who adopt its standpoint only to wrong, deceptive paths.1 Benedetta, Paul Verhoeven's latest film, can in many ways be considered its opposite. It is a film that demythologizes, deconstructs and keenly dissects religion with …
(2021-12-24). Afghanistan: OIC emerging dilemma. moderndiplomacy.eu December 19, 2021, is going to be a monumental day for Afghanistan in its perilous situation. Pakistan on that particular day will host a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) foreign ministers on Afghanistan aimed at addressing exacerbating and egregious humanitarian crisis in war-torn Afghanistan. Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Pakistan's foreign minister says, "In …
(2021-12-24). The repercussions of the American presence in the Middle East on China and Russia. moderndiplomacy.eu There are many potential repercussions of the US presence in the Middle East, with direct impacts on both China and Russia. Here, the most important priorities of the new US administration in the Middle East are represented in (negotiating over the Iranian nuclear program), which threatens Israel's security and destabilizes the region, according to American …
(2021-12-24). What can we Expect from Boric? (Interview). orinocotribune.com 
We spoke to Bruno Sommer, founder of I imagine there is still a sense of elation on the streets of Chile now! | Of course, the victory of Boric and his Frente Amplio group is not only a victory for their sector, but for all the social movements that came out to back him. This election was unique, it had the highest rate of participation since the…
(2021-12-24). Ethical aspects relating to cyberspace: Utilitarianism and deontology. moderndiplomacy.eu Obviously web ethics must primarily be behavioural in nature. Its task is to serve as a tool for making decisions in morally difficult situations. However, as long as web ethics is seen only as one of the mechanisms of the Internet normative self-regulation, based on the spontaneously formed ethos of cyberspace, it will lack the …
(2021-12-24). Three reasons to be hopeful as a hard year comes to a close. nationofchange.org The year to come could still see big changes for the better. Here's how.
(2021-12-24). Trains with Flawed Electrical Systems Caused Caracas Subway Explosions. orinocotribune.com Wednesday, December 22, the President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, and the Minister of Transportation, Hipólito Abreu, reported that investigations by engineers from the Caracas Metro found the cause of explosions that affected several trains of the public company in previous weeks. They also responded to threats of a lawsuit from by the Spanish Export Credit Insurance Company (CESCE), which is claiming compensation for ‚Ǩ138 million. | "A fault was discovered that caused explosions as a result of the electrical overload," explained President Nicolás Maduro at a ceremony at the Teresa Carreño T…
(2021-12-24). Minimum corporate taxation- Explainer. moderndiplomacy.eu What did the European Commission propose? The European Commission has proposed a Directive to ensure a global minimum effective tax rate of 15% for large groups operating in the European Union.The proposal delivers on the EU's pledge to move extremely swiftly and be among the first to implement the historic global tax reform agreement reached …
(2021-12-24). Campaign calling for release of Kashmiri activist Khurram Parvez gains momentum. peoplesdispatch.org Following the arrest of activist Khurram Parvez in November, a number of international human rights organizations have launched a solidarity campaign demanding his immediate and unconditional release.
(2021-12-24). The Combating Islamophobia Act: On Hate Crimes and "Irrational Fears" dissidentvoice.org 
The result of a vote, on December 14, in the US House of Representatives regarding the combating of Islamophobia, may possibly appear to be a positive sign of change, that Washington is finally confronting this socio-political evil. However, conclusions must not be too hasty. Disquietingly, Congress was nearly split on the vote. While 219 voted in …
(2021-12-24). Failure of US media on Ukraine. dissidentvoice.org We need to constantly remind ourselves about the US media. During the Cold War, there was the saying that the difference between the New York Times and the Soviet Pravda was that Pravda readers knew they were being lied to. Unfortunately, current coverage by the US media about the movement of Russian troops demonstrates the applicability of that saying today. …
(2021-12-24). The Exploitation of Children in a Season that Celebrates Love. dissidentvoice.org The role of the media is to inform, report and humanize the facts and figures that are more easily assigned to cells in a spreadsheet. Not to rewrite what is into what they feel will please their masters. Most "news" hours are spent rehashing ever-repeated rhetoric, "language that is intended to influence people and that …
(2021-12-24). Fighting the Power From Inside the Belly of the Beast. zcomm.org Interview on a quest to take on City Hall and restore power to the people of Cleveland…
(2021-12-24). First Omicron cases detected in Indonesia. wsws.org Faced with the dangerous new variant, the Indonesian government, in line with governments around the world, has implemented no serious health measures to stop its spread.
(2021-12-24). As Omicron surges in Europe, governments prepare holiday catastrophe. wsws.org This year's Christmas festivities will be an unprecedented super-spreader event as Omicron leaves European countries facing hospital collapse in January.
(2021-12-24). The Coronavirus Pandemic has Widened Global Inequalities. zcomm.org The prices asked by Big Pharma for Covid vaccines are exorbitant…
(2021-12-24). Outdated US Cold War Policy Worsens Ongoing Russia-Ukraine Conflict. zcomm.org The Russia-Ukraine conflict is a solvable problem, but one wonders if the U.S. will remain dedicated to a "zombie policy" that could produce potentially awful consequences in the event of a diplomatic failure…
(2021-12-24). Boring From Within the Bourgeois Press: Part One. mronline.org 
Eugene V. Debs may be my all-time favorite American and Karl Marx my all-time favorite journalist. But my employer for a decade was The Wall Street Journal, and for another decade it was the Los Angeles Times.
(2021-12-24). Forget Manchin. Sanders says entire Democratic party must show 'guts' against corporate interests. nationofchange.org The focus of the party, says the Vermont senator, must be "to restore faith with the American people that they actually stand for something."
(2021-12-24). Anger mounts as New York Democrats fail to protect population from Omicron surge. wsws.org New York City has plunged into a health crisis this week as record numbers of people test positive for COVID-19, primarily its Omicron variant.
(2021-12-24). Pentagon Clamps Down on Extremism & White Supremacy. zcomm.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…
(2021-12-24). Amazon Warehouse Workers Walk Off the Job in Illinois. zcomm.org Wednesday morning, several dozen Amazon workers at two separate Chicago-area delivery stations staged a walkout to demand raises and safer working conditions…
(2021-12-24). To oppose government austerity, Sri Lankan workers need to build action committees and fight for socialist policies. wsws.org The critical lesson of this year's strikes and protests is that determination and militancy is not enough. The working class cannot defend its rights without independently mobilising on a socialist program.
(2021-12-24). Workers Struggles: Asia and Australia. wsws.org India: Delhi school teachers suspend online classes over unpaid salaries; Sri Lankan public sector doctors take national walkout; Australia: Rail workers and bus drivers continue industrial action in NSW.
(2021-12-24). SEP holds emergency online meeting to demand immediate freedom for Julian Assange. wsws.org "Assange's salvation has never been the British judiciary. His freedom and defence have always depended on a mass movement of the international working class."
(2021-12-24). Russian Green Deal: Light at the End of the Tunnel? zcomm.org Russia is a leading carbon emitter and exporter. But change is afoot inside the country…