(2020-12-13). US Supreme Court Backs "Grand Theft" Election 2020. globalresearch.ca On Friday, the Supreme Court declined to hear arguments in what may be remembered one day as the most significant political dispute in US history. | Texas et al v. Pennsylvania et al was the judicial equivalent of Hollywood's Godzilla v. …
(2020-12-13). US Media, Pols Rage After Venezuelans Defy US Empire to Re-elect Socialists. globalresearch.ca President Nicolas Maduro and his United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) are celebrating today, after a clear victory in yesterday's National Assembly elections. The elections, boycotted by many major right-wing opposition groups, but still participated in by over 100 …
(2020-12-13). Russia's Forgotten Nuclear Disaster. counterpunch.org 
It was a warm fall day on September 29, 1957, not much unlike any other in the deep Russian interior. Residents in the Chelyabinsk oblast cared for their crops of wheat and potatoes, others herded cattle. Women hung out their family's clothes to dry as the winds picked up before the sun descended. In the
(2020-12-13). 10 Syrian Druze residents of Golan Heights injured in protest against wind turbines. peoplesdispatch.org Syrian Druze residents of the occupied Golan Heights are opposing Israeli plans to build a wind turbine to supply power to nearby illegal settlements. The Golan Heights has been under occupation since 1981…
(2020-12-13). How to Wear a Face Mask and Still Show Dissent Against Tyranny. globalresearch.ca I'm not fond of grocery shopping. Doubly so when our …
(2020-12-13). The New Normal: One Step Closer to Dystopia. New Covid Outbreaks, People are "Living in Extreme Fear" globalresearch.ca On September 11th, 2001, terrorist attacks took place on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon allegedly orchestrated by Al Qaeda led by Osama bin Laden, and subsequently blamed it on Saddam Hussein and the Baath Party and then …
(2020-12-13). Chicago Teachers Union car caravan presses mayor to bargain enforceable safety standards. fightbacknews.org Chicago, IL — More than 100 teachers, parents and community members participated in a car caravan, December 12 for safety, equality and trust. Chicago Public Schools has rejected the union's safety concerns at every turn, refused to bargain to consensus on safety needs, rejected improving its inhumane remote learning program despite months of pleas from parents, students and educators, and fallen woefully short on safety promises they've made. | The caravan traveled to city hall, where caravan members delivered pointed criticisms of CPS' dangerous plan to accommodate the mayor's insistence on reopening unsa…
(2020-12-13). Will Facebook have to give up WhatsApp and Instagram? peoplesdispatch.org Newsclick's Prabir Purkayastha analyzes the latest antitrust case against Facebook. He looks at the growing global consensus on action against the tech giants, and talks about the situation in the developing countries…
(2020-12-13). Important Addition to Edsall Column on the Politics of Resentment: Downward Mobility Was by Design. cepr.net Thomas Edsall had an interesting piece last week on the politics of resentment. The gist of that a large portion of non-college educated whites are voting based on their fear of losing their social status. While there is undoubtedly much truth to Edsall's argument, there is an important point that Edsall leaves out. He tells …
(2020-12-13). Video: Rocco Galati on COVID Lockdown Measures. Crimes against Humanity. Lawsuit against Government of Canada. globalresearch.ca "Politicians have not put forward any persuasive evidence that lockdowns have actually saved lives. At the same time, there is no question that lockdowns have caused grave harm to millions of Canadians suffering unemployment, poverty, cancelled surgeries, suicides, isolation …
(2020-12-13). Perfecting Tyranny: Mumia's New Book Hot Off the Press! globalresearch.ca Perfecting Tyranny by Mumia Abu-Jamal & Stephen Vittoria is a window into the soul of a nation from one of its most respected and feared captives. Getting this book to print took enormous resolve. We now turn to you to …
(2020-12-13). Hospital bosses warn Boris Johnson that relaxing restrictions could 'trigger third wave'. thecanary.co 
NHS bosses have warned the prime minister that relaxing restrictions could trigger a third wave of coronavirus (Covid-19) at the busiest time of year for hospitals.In a letter to Boris Johnson, NHS Providers urged "extreme caution" in moving any area of England to a lower tier, according to reports by the BBC.The first review of England's tier allocation is due take place on Wednesday 16 December. This would be two weeks after the three-tier system was brought in after the end of lockdown.(PA Graphics)"The NHS simply won't be able to cope": But areas should be moved into the highest tier of restrictions "a…
(2020-12-13). Coles workers take to the streets to save their jobs. greenleft.org.au Several hundred Coles workers and supporters marched through Sydney's streets, calling on the public to boycott Coles this Christmas. Jim McIlroy reports.
(2020-12-13). A short film made by a community is getting international recognition. thecanary.co 
A short film about a community project in south London during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has gone global. It's already picked up an award at an international film festival. And the film is being screened at several others.Surviving in Lewisham: Feeding Lewisham — Foodbanks In Crisis is a
(2020-12-13). Armenia, Azerbaijan accuse each other of ceasefire violation. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 13 (MNA) — The Armenian Foreign Ministry condemned the violation of the ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh, calling it contrary to the ceasefire agreement and against the presence of Russian peacekeepers.
(2020-12-13). Let Everybody Vote, Even If They're Incarcerated. zcomm.org What value is a democracy that actively seeks to silence the voices of its most vulnerable citizens?
(2020-12-13). Leading Scientist Says Hunger Is a Deliberate Choice by Those in Power. zcomm.org "It's important to remember that hunger does not always happen because of natural disasters. It is often the result of things that we do to each other deliberately."
(2020-12-13). Failing Students Need Support, Not Blame. commondreams.org Students don't fail because they are lazy. They fail because something is wrong in their lives—and right now, so much is wrong. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/schools_students_0.jpg …
(2020-12-13). A Roadmap for the Biden-Harris Administration: Redesigning Farm Systems for the Climate Crisis. commondreams.org A just transition for farming must not only consider reforms to farm policy, but also aligned reforms in financial, trade, environmental, and competition policy. | www.flickr.com/photos/suziesfarm/11438035863…
(2020-12-13). "Corona Procurements": Tory Corruption Is Eroding UK Democracy. globalresearch.ca The UK's governing Tory party is dishonestly flouting the rules of free and fair competition for Coronavirus related procurements, by unfairly selecting commissions, awarding contracts to class allies instead of the best or cheapest service provider. | The party frequently uses …
(2020-12-13). British Medical Journal (BMJ): Conflicts of Interest Among the UK Government's COVID-19 Advisers. globalresearch.ca Little is known about the interests of the doctors, scientists, and academics on whose advice the UK government relies to manage the pandemic. Attempts to discover more are frequently thwarted, finds Paul D Thacker | *** | As the number of UK …
(2020-12-13). With Gigs Canceled and No Relief, Musicians Form a Nationwide Union. zcomm.org UMAW differentiates itself from similar unions through its vast scope, seeking systemic shifts industry-wide, inclusive of various genres and practices…
(2020-12-13). 'We Need To Get Off The Current Road To Hell'. popularresistance.org A group of four former United Nations climate chiefs say it's "unthinkable" for the world to continue its business-as-usual approach to climate action, warning that without ramped-up ambition, humanity is headed down a "road to hell." | The assessment is laid out in an article published on Thursday in the peer-reviewed journal Climate Policy. | "Drawing on hardening IPCC science and building on the foundations of the 1992 Convention, the last 30 years of international cooperation have established a clear understanding of the need to prevent dangerous climate change…
(2020-12-13). Renters still left out in the cold despite temporary coronavirus protection. realprogressives.org Emergency relief for renters across America may protect them from the threat of eviction during the coronavirus crisis — but it won't last for long. | The economic shutdown necessitated by COVID-19 has undermined the ability of millions…
(2020-12-13). The COVID-19 RT-PCR Test: How to Mislead All Humanity. Using a "Test" To Lock Down Society. globalresearch.ca The misuse of the RT-PCR technique is used as an intentional strategy by some governments, supported by scientific safety councils and by the dominant media, to justify the violation of a large number of constitutional rights, the destruction of the economy with the bankruptcy of entire active sectors of society,…
(2020-12-13). The Handmaid's Tale: making a drama out of a crisis. news.un.org The Handmaid's Tale, a critically acclaimed television series which has won 38 Emmy awards, may be about a fictional "alternative reality", but the show's creators have gone to great lengths to ensure that references to themes such as climate change, human rights abuses, and refugees, are as real and accurate as possible, by collaborating closely with UN experts.
(2020-12-13). "There is no vaccine to save the planet" indybay.org In the Arctic, 2020 has seen exceptional warmth, with temperatures more than 3 degrees Celsius above average – and more than 5 degrees in northern Siberia. Arctic sea ice in October was the lowest on record – and now re-freezing has been the slowest on record. Greenland ice has continued its long-term decline, losing an average of 278 gigatons a year.
(2020-12-13). COVID-19: A Fabricated Second "Tidal Wave" of Poverty and Injustice. globalresearch.ca Here we are at the end of a year filled with upheaval, facing yet another round of lockdowns, this time ostensibly intended to fight off a supposed "second wave of COVID-19." | In the foreground, we have the completely co-opted mainstream …
(2020-12-13). Why agriculture shouldn't be left to free market. peoplesdispatch.org The prices as well as the quantities of the agricultural produce in a free market would be far from socially optimal and are likely to be socially disastrous…
(2020-12-13). Bankrolling blu klux klans? dissidentvoice.org Rhythms of red, white, blue 'party' lights flashing beneath screaming sirens; The rush of warm crimson drawing 2, 4, 6, 8, 10—and then some… Robotic legs, arms—possessed— punching, kicking a fetal fraction— prone red shirt; black face; fractured eye socket, exploding eyeball; broken ribs drowning in swarming blue savagery: The viral video sparks flashbacks to …
(2020-12-13). 48% Of U.S. Small Businesses Fear that They May be Forced to "Shut Down Permanently" Soon. globalresearch.ca What would the United States look like if we lost half of our small businesses? The reason I ask that question is because approximately half of all small business owners in the entire country believe that they may soon be …
(2020-12-12). The planning and politics of conversion: World War II lessons for a Green New Deal—Part 1. mronline.org 
This post highlights the successful government directed wartime reorientation of the U.S. economy from civilian to military production, an achievement that both demonstrates the feasibility of a rapid Green New Deal transformation of the U.S. economy and points to the kinds of organizational capacities we will need to develop.
(2020-12-12). Canada's military seeks to cover its tracks following damning report on Australian war crimes in Afghanistan. wsws.org In response to the release of a report exposing Australian military atrocities in Afghanistan, the Canadian Armed Forces has doubled down on its long-running efforts to cover up its own war crimes in the region.
(2020-12-12). After reports of fresh fighting, Russian peacekeepers tell Armenia & Azerbaijan to observe agreed truce in Nagorno-Karabakh. rt.com 
The Russian peacekeeping mission in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region has demanded that Baku and Yerevan stick to the November ceasefire agreement as Armenia and Azerbaijan blamed each other for weekend truce violations. | A shooting incident has been reported on the line of contact in the southern part of the contested territory, a spokesman from the Russian deployment told Moscow media. | "We immediately demanded through emergency channels the sides stick to the complete ceasefire," he said. Earlier on Saturday, Armenia's Defense Ministry accused Baku of resuming an offensive Nagorno-Karabakh targeting t…
(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… |
(2020-12-12). Marxism vs the state. mronline.org 
Karl Marx developed his theory of revolution by arguing against would-be progressives who looked to the capitalist state as a force for progress.
(2020-12-12). Go Vote Yourself a Raise, Georgia—You've Long Earned It. commondreams.org Candidates should be pushed to say if they stand with the super-rich profiteering, callous Big Business tycoons or with the people who work for pitiful wages, on the rugged frontlines, and keep our society running. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/georgia_primary.jpg …
(2020-12-12). Israel-Morocco deal: Palestinians and Sahrawis hope for renewed solidarity. middleeasteye.net 
Israel-Morocco deal: Palestinians and Sahrawis hope for renewed solidarity | Activists have long linked the two people's struggles, and hope the latest normalisation deal will encourage the Palestinian leadership to do the same | Sat, 12/12/2020 – 10: 26 | Supporters of the Polisario Front separatist movement hold a banner reading "All for Palestine, all for Western Sahara" during a demonstratio…
(2020-12-12). El Salvador: 1981 El Mozote Massacre Survivors Pursue Justice. telesurenglish.net The survivors of the El Mozote massacre, carried out by the US-backed Salvadoran Army in 1981, commemorated the 39th anniversary this Saturday. They hope to see the criminal process go to trial in 2021, and to finally see a conviction against those linked to the horrific crime. | RELATED: | The criminal case against more than a dozen military commanders, including some members of the military leadership of the…
(2020-12-12). Resistance in the face of repression: stories from protesting farmers at Delhi's border. peoplesdispatch.org 
Hundreds of thousands of farmers have been protesting at the borders of Delhi for two weeks. On Sunday, we talked to some of them who described the mobilization leading up to this massive protest…
(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.
(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). UN climate report calls out global elite as cause of the crisis. liberationnews.org 
The report takes a surprisingly class perspective by pointing out that the one percent richest people on the planet are responsible for emissions equal to that of the poorest 50 percent of the world's population.
(2020-12-12). US adopts 'new official' map of Morocco that includes Western Sahara. middleeasteye.net 
US adopts 'new official' map of Morocco that includes Western Sahara | Washington's ambassador to Rabat says map 'recognises Morocco's sovereignty' over disputed territory after North African nation normalised relations with Israel | Sat, 12/12/2020 – 20: 13 | Supporters of Western Sahara's independence hold Western Saharan and Algerian flags during a demonstration in Bordeaux, France on 1…
(2020-12-12). FTC sues Facebook: What does it mean for social media users? liberationnews.org 
The complaint is not about privacy or speech.
(2020-12-12). Queens, NY man jailed on fake confession, community rallies to free Prakash Churaman. liberationnews.org 
Even though his conviction was reversed this past June, Churaman remains at Rikers awaiting a new trial.
(2020-12-12). Jeffrey Lewis — The Story of Chile (a low-budget documentary). counterpunch.org 
…
(2020-12-12). [World Report] Humanitarian access deal for Tigray. thelancet.com Humanitarian groups will be allowed into Tigray, Ethiopia, where conflict has displaced thousands and strained health services. Sharmila Devi reports.
(2020-12-12). Happiest Hanukkah from this crispy latke, egg and cheese sandwich. salon.com "Potato pancake inside of the egg sandwich?" It's delicious…
(2020-12-12). Rebuilding the Solidarity Economy During Covid-19. commondreams.org The pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests have shown New York's mutual aid collectives how to navigate the line between mutual aid, solidarity, and charity.
(2020-12-12). [Perspectives] Is my cough COVID-19? thelancet.com Imagine that even if you have no symptoms of COVID-19, the sound of your forced cough transmitted to your smartphone or smart speaker, processed by an algorithm, could provide a 98 ∑5% accurate diagnosis. That's what a study involving more than 4000 people suggested might be possible. And it could be done anytime, free of charge, with immediate turnaround of results. It's one of many proposed uses of artificial intelligence (AI) for COVID-19. However, such technology will clearly require further research and independent replication to be refined, accepted, or implemented.
(2020-12-12). Tuesday 12/15: Solicitud de Liberación de ICE para Personas Médicamente Vulnerables en Custodia de ICE. indybay.org En linea webinar…
(2020-12-12). [Clinical Picture] Occult fracture in teenager's tibia revealed by MRI. thelancet.com A 13-year-old girl presented with a 2-week history of mild pain in her right knee. She reported no recent injury. x-rays showed a high-density linear abnormality with a periosteal reaction in the proximal right tibia (figure), which medical staff, at the hospital where she was first seen, thought might have been a tumour of the bone.
(2020-12-12). [World Report] Experts call to include prisons in COVID-19 vaccine plans. thelancet.com As some countries begin vaccination, experts are questioning the allocation and prioritisation lists. Nayanah Siva reports.
(2020-12-12). Senators urge Army leadership to testify before Congress about Fort Hood firings. nationofchange.org The U.S. Army failed Sergeant Elder Fernandes, Specialist Vanessa Guillen, and their families and they, like the families of all of the soldiers who have suffered at Fort Hood, deserve justice."
(2020-12-12). 'Exactly What the Country Needs Right Now': SCOTUS Rejects Texas Suit Challenging Election Results. commondreams.org "It's over over over over and 90% of GOP needs to recognize reality." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-12300736491.jpg …
(2020-12-12). Saturday 12/12: SC1.5NCE Not SILENCE: Five-year Anniversary of Paris Agreement Climate Emergency Forum. indybay.org Online via livestream or Zoom…
(2020-12-12). Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestlé are worst plastic polluters of 2020, have made 'zero progress,' new report finds. nationofchange.org "The world's top polluting corporations claim to be working hard to solve plastic pollution, but instead they are continuing to pump out harmful single-use plastic packaging."
(2020-12-12). Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is. zcomm.org Governments are pledging to avert a climate crisis while their economies bankroll and intensify it.
(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…
(2020-12-12). British Government And Other Warnings Re Pfizer Covid Vaccine. indybay.org Warnings from UK health officials, CNN, NPR and other | sources re the covid vaccine.
(2020-12-12). So Long! Farewell! commondreams.org www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/further/bottle-best_tease_champagne-gold-glitter-confetti-space-text-white-background-top-view-hilarious-celebration-154736716.jpg …
(2020-12-12). This New York cheesecake recipe swaps graham crackers with pie crust crumbs to elevate the crust. salon.com Did you know cheesecake is really a pie? Here's how to make it the right way from the owner of Petee's Pie Company…
(2020-12-12). Our Youngest 'Self-Made' Billionaire, Our Wealthy's Oldest Bogus Claim. commondreams.org The super rich owe their super fortunes to factors that have little to do with their "genius." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/gettyimages-83010081_0.jpg …
(2020-12-12). Argentina: Acciones Plurinacionales en Defensa de la Vida. indybay.org Argentina | Del 8 al 13 de diciembre | SEMANA DE ACCIONES PLURINACIONALES EN DEFENSA DE LA VIDA…
(2020-12-12). Saturday 12/19: Police Murder and the Struggle for Justice. indybay.org Join Zoom Meeting | zoom.us/j/99509975138?pwd=ZytnajNqdGo2RUdiWGRIeStuRGRZQT09 | Meeting ID: 995 0997 5138 | Passcode: 298564 | One tap mobile | +16699006833,,99509975138#,,,,,,0#,,298564# US (San Jose) | +12532158782,,99509975138#,,,,,,0#,,298564# US (Tacoma) | Dial by your location | +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) | +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) | +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) | +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) | +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) | +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C) | Meeting ID: 995 0997 5138 | Passcode: 298564 | Find your local number: zoom.us/u/ab0SatXmAo…
(2020-12-12). Nineteen Tragic Facts About Covid 19. zcomm.org In 13 states, the unemployment benefits provided fall below the federal poverty line of $245 a week according to the Government Accountability Office…
(2020-12-12). [Perspectives] Protecting our second harvest. thelancet.com Among the saddest aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic was the laying bare of how older people are devalued by our politicians and the medical establishment. Although older people, and particularly those resident in care homes, were the demographic group most affected by mortality and morbidity from COVID-19, in the early stages of the pandemic advisory sites from many international and national medical organisations and professional bodies did not sufficiently prioritise effective prevention and management for older people in COVID-19 guidance documents and educational updates.
(2020-12-12). Wednesday 12/16: NAACP Town Hall: Slowing Pandemic Spread, #COVID19 Vaccine, & Health of Black Community. indybay.org Online town hall…
(2020-12-12). Government study shows taxpayers are subsidizing "starvation wages" at McDonald's, Walmart. salon.com Sen. Bernie Sanders called the findings "morally obscene"
(2020-12-12). Incarcerated Women Are Punished for Their Trauma With Solitary Confinement. truthout.org This work is supported by a grant from the Solitary Confinement Reporting Project, managed by Solitary Watch with funding from the Vital Projects Fund. | At Minnesota's Shakopee Correctional Facility for women, where I am incarcerated, solitude is something we seldom have a chance to experience. Loud, muffled over-head announcements begin every morning at 5: 30 and continue until 9: 30 p.m. when we are counted for the last time of the day. There is little privacy; everyone can hear each other's b…
(2020-12-12). [Editorial] Facing up to long COVID. thelancet.com Multiorgan symptoms after COVID-19 are being reported by increasing numbers of patients. They range from cough and shortness of breath, to fatigue, headache, palpitations, chest pain, joint pain, physical limitations, depression, and insomnia, and affect people of varying ages. At the Lancet—Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences conference on Nov 23, Bin Cao presented data (in press at The Lancet) on the long-term consequences of COVID-19 for patients in Wuhan, and warned that dysfunctions and complications could persist in some discharged patients for at least 6 months.
(2020-12-12). How to Cure America's Vaccine Paranoia. zcomm.org The vaccine refusers among us will likely continue to benefit from living in a largely vaccinated community, mooching off of the herd immunity they refuse to contribute to…
(2020-12-12). Anthony Joshua Retains Heavyweight Titles After Defeating Kubrat Pulev. sputniknews.com Joshua knocked out Pulev near the end of the ninth round, finishing his last fight prior to the much-anticipated brawl against Tyson Fury in 2021.
(2020-12-12). [Obituary] Valerie Curtis. thelancet.com Engineer turned hygiene scientist and public health advocate. She was born in Seascale, UK, on Sept 20, 1958, and died of vaginal cancer in Haywards Heath, UK, on Oct 19, 2020, aged 62 years.
(2020-12-12). [Correspondence] Association of SARS-CoV-2 renal tropism with acute kidney injury. thelancet.com In their report on the association of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) renal tropism with acute kidney injury, Fabian Braun and colleagues1 do not appear to have provided evidence for acute kidney injury as defined in the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) clinical practice guidelines—that is, an increase in serum creatinine (SCr) by 26 ∑5 Œºmol/L or more within 48 h; an increase in SCr to 1 ∑5 times or more from baseline, which is known or presumed to have occurred within the previous 7 days; or a urine volume of less than 0 ∑5 ml/kg per h f…
(2020-12-12). Thursday 1/14: Abortion and the Law in America: Roe v. Wade to the Present. indybay.org Online event…
(2020-12-12). [Correspondence] Maintaining a gendered perspective in scientific meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic. thelancet.com Several studies have pointed towards the COVID-19 pandemic's potential to negatively affect career paths of women in science.1,2 Although the impact on manuscript submissions and publications, as one career path mechanism, has been well documented,3 an area that is often difficult to elucidate as part of the mechanisms underlying differential progress of male and female researchers is that of invitations to give scientific talks and to chair scientific meetings. Here, the merit of such an invitation is not always transparent or as easy to assess as a publication record.
(2020-12-12). [Correspondence] One Health or Planetary Health for pandemic prevention? thelancet.com It is a well accepted narrative that the disruption of forests, rapid urbanisation, and population growth are driving zoonotic events simply by increasing close contact between people and animals.1 However, these predictor variables (eg, urbanisation, land usage, human population density) only explain about 30% of the total variation in zoonotic potential.2 With advancing technologies, it has been shown that vertebrate RNA viruses, despite transmitting between species, have co-evolved with their hosts for millions of years, which only strengthens the theory that zoonotic diseases caused by RNA virus spillover, su…
(2020-12-12). Friday 12/11: Solidarity Rally! Support Bookshop Santa Cruz Union! indybay.org Pacific Avenue and Locust Street, Santa Cruz…
(2020-12-12). [Articles] Genome-edited, donor-derived allogeneic anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T cells in paediatric and adult B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: results of two phase 1 studies. thelancet.com These two studies show, for the first time, the feasibility of using allogeneic, genome-edited CAR T cells to treat patients with aggressive leukaemia. UCART19 exhibited in-vivo expansion and antileukaemic activity with a manageable safety profile in heavily pretreated paediatric and adult patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. The results this study are an encouraging step forward for the field of allogeneic CAR T cells, and UCART19 offers the opportunity to treat patients with rapidly progressive disease and where autologous CAR-T-cell therapy is unavailable.
(2020-12-12). [Review] Retinal vascular occlusions. thelancet.com Acute retinal vascular occlusions are common causes of visual impairment. Although both retinal artery occlusions and retinal vein occlusions are associated with increased age and cardiovascular risk factors, their pathophysiology, systemic implications, and management differ substantially. Acute management of retinal artery occlusions involves a multidisciplinary approach including neurologists with stroke expertise, whereas treatment of retinal vein occlusions is provided by ophthalmologists. Optimisation of systemic risk factors by patients' primary care providers is an important component of the management of…
(2020-12-12). [Correspondence] Cardiovascular preventive strategies are not conflicting. thelancet.com We agree with Michael Brainin and Karen Sliwa1 about the urgent need to improve the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease but would like to correct some other points they raise. Brainin and Sliwa suggest that we2 promoted high-risk approaches over population-based approaches; however, we stated that "Too often debate about prevention of cardiovascular disease is polarised between opposing evangelists for the high-risk and population-wide approaches. An agnostic approach based on effectiveness and cost-effectiveness is preferable.
(2020-12-12). [World Report] Cheaper HIV treatment for children. thelancet.com A new pricing agreement will bring the cost of treatment for children with HIV down from US$480 to less than $120. Talha Burki reports.
(2020-12-12). Warehouse Workers on the Front Lines of the Covid Crisis Are Worried They'll Be Passed Over for the Vaccine. commondreams.org Low-wage warehouse workers, many of whom are temporary, are demanding access to the vaccine. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/warehousepiece_01c8ac7cc3b849e525e370bc513441201.jpg …
(2020-12-12). Mass protests for reproductive rights erupt in Poland: Why Americans should learn from them. salon.com Poland is a reminder that when authoritarians take power, attacks on reproductive rights often follow…
(2020-12-12). [Seminar] Primary biliary cholangitis. thelancet.com Primary biliary cholangitis is an autoimmune liver disease that predominantly affects women. It is characterised by a chronic and destructive, small bile duct, granulomatous lymphocytic cholangitis, with typical seroreactivity for antimitochondrial antibodies. Patients have variable risks of progressive ductopenia, cholestasis, and biliary fibrosis. Considerations for the cause of this disease emphasise an interaction of chronic immune damage with biliary epithelial cell responses and encompass complex, poorly understood genetic risks and environmental triggers.
(2020-12-12). Predicting hyperprogressive disease in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma treated with anti-programmed cell death 1 therapy. thelancet.com We identified three clinical variables as risk factors for HPD, providing an opportunity to aid the pre-treatment evaluation of the risk of HPD in patients treated with immunotherapy.
(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…
(2020-12-12). [Correspondence] Association of SARS-CoV-2 renal tropism with acute kidney injury — Authors' reply. thelancet.com We thank Kay Choy for the nterest in our Correspondence,1 in which we described an association between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) renal tropism and acute kidney injury in autopsy cases with COVID-19 diagnosis.
(2020-12-12). The 2020 social justice movements were fed by chefs and food trucks. salon.com As the pandemic slammed their businesses, some chefs and catering businesses found a new calling…
(2020-12-12). Time to Grow Up: Ending Divisions Creating Peace. dissidentvoice.org There are said to be around 30 armed conflicts currently taking place in the world, some large, some small, all deadly. The warring factions of today are more likely to be insurgent groups — 'rebels' (sometimes fighting proxy wars for a regional or global power) or terrorists, extremists — right and left, battling with a …
(2020-12-12). Congress Passes Shell Company Accountability Bill. indybay.org By a vote of 84 to 13, the Senate passed corporate transparency legislation as part of the annual vote on the National Defense Authorization Act.
(2020-12-12). The success of "The Mandalorian" made spinoffs inevitable — but at the expense of originality. salon.com Sure, we're excited to see Lando Calrissian and Boba Fett, but reliance on past characters isn't very reassuring…
(2020-12-12). [Articles] First-attempt success rate of video laryngoscopy in small infants (VISI): a multicentre, randomised controlled trial. thelancet.com Among anaesthetised infants, using video laryngoscopy with a standard blade improves the first-attempt success rate and reduces complications.
(2020-12-12). [World Report] Bolivia's new health minister promises universal health care. thelancet.com Once implemented, the system will guarantee free health care to Bolivians, but critics say more funding is needed. Amy Booth reports.
(2020-12-12). Billionaires made $1tn since Covid-19. They can afford to protect their workers. zcomm.org The contrast between billionaires making no sacrifice and their essential workers making the ultimate sacrifice is both unethical and corrupt…
(2020-12-11). Coronavirus Scandal Breaking in Merkel's Germany. False Positives and the Drosten PCR Test. globalresearch.ca The widely-praised German model of the Angela Merkel regime to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic is now engulfed in a series of potentially devastating scandals going to the very heart of the testing and medical advice being used to declare …
(2020-12-11). Roaming Charges: Negative Creep. counterpunch.org 
Under Biden we're going to experience four years (if he lasts that long) of negative creep, a steady recrudescence of the same policies—economic, social, environmental and military—which led us to into the very quagmire where nearly all of us are now inexorably sinking.
(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 …
(2020-12-11). 'Long Live the (Dead) Peace Process'. zcomm.org Abbas Prioritizes US Ties over Palestinian National Unity…
(2020-12-11). Name Me One Country Where Capitalism Works. dissidentvoice.org 
Orientation When I first considered myself a socialist revolutionary in 1970, I was hounded by free marketers' challenge: "name me one country where socialism works". These market fundamentalists would then hold up the most strident expectations for socialism: Everyone is exactly equal with no classes. There is an abundance of goods which are conveniently circulated. …
(2020-12-11). Venezuela: Socialist election win masks deeper problems. greenleft.org.au The United Socialist Party of Venezuela's strategy has paid off, winning back control of the National Assembly in the December 6 elections. But it has come at a high price, writes Federico Fuentes.
(2020-12-11). Cuba's medical brigades fight the pandemic. workers.org 
Socialist Cuba embodies the spirit of international solidarity by its constant medical aid to countries around the world, especially those impacted by imperialism. This is not just an empty phrase. The true meaning of solidarity is shown every day by teams of Cuban health care workers — the doctors and . . . |
(2020-12-11). Screen Shot 2020-12-10 at 9.16.39 AM.png. progressive.org President Trump is trashing democracy on his way out the door and congressional Republicans are complicit.
(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. . . . |
(2020-12-11). Podcast Panel: US Meddling In Venezuela Elections, Economic Warfare & COVID-19. mintpressnews.com Observed by 1,500 international election observers from 34 countries, elections in Venezuela handed Nicholas Maduro a clear victory, sending a message to the US that it failed to influence the same elections that Mike Pompeo called illegitimate.
(2020-12-11). We don't listen to the dying Government of Donald Trump. mronline.org 
The night before the National Assembly elections in Venezuela, President Nicolás Maduro spoke to a group of visitors at Miraflores Palace in Caracas.
(2020-12-11). Capitalist crimes against seniors in nursing homes. workers.org 
As we are hit by a second wave of the pandemic, the causes of the 266,000 U.S. deaths of COVID-19 must be exposed. It is not because of the virus alone that the U.S. has become the world's leader in number of deaths. It is the capitalist system and its . . . |
(2020-12-11). How the Safe Bet Lost in North Carolina. thenation.com 
What doomed Cal Cunningham may have been the same thing that made him appealing in the first place: He never took a firm position on anything, even himself.
(2020-12-11). PA prisons: Disdain, distrust and deprivation. workers.org 
Incarcerated workers across Pennsylvania are demanding that Department of Corrections Secretary John Wetzel reverse his disastrous decision to begin mass transfers of prisoners during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The following commentary is part 2 from an interview by Joe Piette with jailhouse organizer and environmentalist Bryant Arroyo, who . . . |
(2020-12-11). State repression focus of Detroit Will Breathe/PSL webinar. liberationnews.org 
Detroit Will Breathe organizers Tristan Taylor and Lloyd Simpson in Detroit joined Party for Socialism and Liberation members Shabbir Manjee in Chicago, and Joel Ibrahim and Lillian House in Denver for an online forum Dec. 5. They discussed state repression of the anti-racist movement and how to effectively counter it. The event was organized by …
(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 . . . |
(2020-12-11). Soccer league players announce partnership with Communications Workers of America. peoplesworld.org 
The United Soccer League Players Association (USLPA), the union representing all of the United Soccer League's Championship and League One players, and the Communications Workers of America (CWA), a labor union representing hundreds of thousands of working people across many different sectors, have signed a partnership agreement to build solidarity, increase collaboration, and provide collective …
(2020-12-11). Trustbusters target Facebook, but anti-monopoly effort shores up capitalism. peoplesworld.org 
Coming on the heels of a Justice Department lawsuit against Google filed in October, social networking giant Facebook is now in the crosshairs of the trustbusters at the Federal Trade Commission and a coalition of more than 48 state and territorial governments. Anti-monopoly momentum is picking up as regulators, long regarded as asleep at the …
(2020-12-11). Capitalism and the Green New Deal. counterpunch.org 
Environmental destruction— climate change, species loss, oceanic depletion, and the rendering of vast tracts of air, water and land unusable has, according to a group of recent IPCC reports, reached the point where it threatens human existence. In contrast to efforts by different constituencies to limit the scope of concern, what the IPCC makes clear is that environmental decline is a clear and present danger, and that its breadth makes a mockery of calls for simple technical fixes. In fact, many of the proposed solutions to climate change threaten to make species loss and oceanic depletion significantly worse.
(2020-12-11). Bolivia feeds its hungry while Republicans let Americans starve. peoplesworld.org 
It is a tale of two countries regarding how Bolivia and the United States treat their people. On the one hand, there is Bolivia, a country that has embraced socialism, has overwhelmingly elected a progressive, anti-imperialist president, Luis Arce, and a country that has just initiated a program of "Bonuses Against Hunger" to provide relief …
(2020-12-11). My year as a Workers World candidate — a commentary. workers.org 
Alade with lead banner at Philadelphia United Front march, Nov. 7. WW photo: Joe Piette== The year 2020 conjures up a variety of feelings and emotions for people. Some view it as the year of the apocalypse, others have a more optimistic option. Count me in the latter category. I am . . . |
(2020-12-11). 'Algerians are hurting': Dinar's dramatic fall deepens economic woes. middleeasteye.net 
'Algerians are hurting': Dinar's dramatic fall deepens economic woes | Coronavirus and sharp drop in oil prices have exposed decades of failure to diversify away from natural resources, experts tell MEE | Fri, 12/11/2020 – 09: 35 | Once boasting wealthy resources, the North African country has seen its foreign exchange reserves significantly depleted in the last few years (AFP/file photo)…
(2020-12-11). Canada: Alberta's open-pit coal mining plan must be stopped! peoplesworld.org 
Australian mining corporations are already preparing to open-pit mine in the Bighorn area of the Rocky Mountains. Since 1976 Alberta's Coal Development Policy has guided land use over many aspects of coal development, including open-pit coal mining and coal exploration in some of Alberta's most environmentally sensitive areas. This policy was developed with extensive public …
(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 …
(2020-12-11). New Zealand attacks inquiry leaves Muslims 'bewildered' and frustrated. middleeasteye.net 
New Zealand attacks inquiry leaves Muslims 'bewildered' and frustrated | Inquiry concludes mosque shootings could not have been prevented, but community in mourning still has questions it wants answered | Fri, 12/11/2020 – 17: 15 | Jacinda Ardern (R) walks with Gamal Fouda (L), imam of Al Noor mosque, in September as she prepares to unveil plaque in memory of those killed in 2019 shootings (AFP)…
(2020-12-11). PW Podcast: Rev. Liz Theoharis talks voter suppression and poverty. peoplesworld.org 
Beyond the Page is a companion podcast to the award-winning publication People's World. With every episode, we'll take you deeper into the topics covered at PeoplesWorld.org. Our program brings you in-depth interviews with journalists and activists on the most pressing stories in progressive politics, labor, and the struggle for socialism in the United States. As …
(2020-12-11). The SEC Has a Graph of the Wall Street Short-Term Loan Market that Blew Up: It Needs a Surgeon General Warning Before Viewing. counterpunch.org 
If you suffer from chronic nightmares, experience migraine headaches from stress, or have anger management issues when confronted with abject stupidity, you probably want to avoid looking at the above graph that the Securities and Exchange Commission has created to show how one of the most critical financial markets in the United States functions. Or
(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…
(2020-12-11). Military sexual assault is business as usual say veterans as Fort Hood investigation concludes. liberationnews.org 
Following a months-long investigation, the U.S. Army has disciplined 14 higher-ups at Fort Hood in Texas for failures of leadership related to a toxic climate that resulted in pervasive sexual harassment and incidents of sexual assault at the base.
(2020-12-11). Delaware-sized iceberg floats toward South Georgia, puts wildlife at risk. peoplesworld.org 
 …
(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…
(2020-12-11). Biden's cabinet picks are a pittance—Representation in the capitalist government is not enough. liberationnews.org 
If we study the political careers of Kamala Harris and Avril Haines we find that these women have consistently made decisions that harm workers…
(2020-12-11). Partly Truth and Partly Fiction, Totally Genius: Kris Kristofferson. dissidentvoice.org 
He who binds to himself a joy Does the winged life destroy; But he who kisses the joy as it flies Lives in eternity's sun rise. — William Blake, Eternity Great songwriters, like great poets, are possessed by a passionate melancholic sensibility that gives them joy in the telling. They seem always to be homesick …
(2020-12-11). General strike: Greek workers respond to government's attacks. workers.org 
In big cities like Athens and Thessaloníki, and smaller ones like Larissa and Patras, workers in Greece struck and marched by the thousands Nov. 26 to defend workers' wages and benefits. Their actions defied government restrictions, made under the pretext of responding to COVID-19, which limit gatherings of more than . . . |
(2020-12-11). Brazilian poet diplomat Vinícius de Moraes and 'The Worker in Construction'. peoplesworld.org 
The year 2020 marked 40 years of farewell to the poet Vinícius de Moraes. He left the coexistence on July 9, 1980. Vinícius was known as the "poetinha"—the little poet—a nickname he earned from Antà¥nio Carlos (Tom) Jobim, his frequent collaborator in the bossa nova movement. His most famous lyric was the one he wrote …
(2020-12-11). Gove lets slip the truth about Brexit. The timing couldn't be more embarrassing. thecanary.co 
Earlier this week, cabinet office minister Michael Gove dropped a spectacular clanger when he inadvertently revealed that the Johnson government's Brexit dealings are nonsensical. The phrase Gove used to U-turn on Irish border: | On 8 December 2020, Gove and European commission vice-president…
(2020-12-11). "I Told You So. You Damned Fools": 75 Years of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. counterpunch.org Leafing — or in this case scrolling through — the commemorative issue of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists after 75 years of publication is a tingling exercise of existence. The subject matter pushes you to the edge. You threaten to fall off. Death is promised; extinction contemplated. Nuclear holocaust. Your sanity is called into
(2020-12-11). Biden Must Restore Citizenship for Black and Brown People. aclu.org President Trump's relentless destruction of our immigration system is well documented. However, the myriad ways in which he attacked and targeted Black and Brown people seeking immigration benefits or citizenship, and even U.S. citizens is less discussed. , , There have been three substantial attacks on citizenship for Black and Brown immigrants: | Indefinite delays of immigration benefits, including citizenship, through the Controlled Application Review and Resolution Program (CARRP), which has targeted Muslims and people from Muslim-majority countries since 2008;Blocking the expedited path to citizenship fo…
(2020-12-11). What 100 Years of History Tells Us About Racism in Policing. aclu.org In the middle of the 2020 pandemic, America was shaken by the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, and the protests that erupted in the aftermath. But the disturbing trends we see today in police violence are the same patterns we've seen over the last 100 years. Again and again, commissions convened to examine why police brutality sparks unrest have come to the same conclusion: We must address the poverty and systemic racism that go hand in hand with policing communities of color., , This week, we launched a series of four short films taking a critical look at what we've learned from the last 100 years…
(2020-12-11). New York state's pension fund will divest from fossil fuel. nationofchange.org This is being hailed as "the most aggressive divestment target set by any U.S. pension fund by a decade."
(2020-12-11). Diego Luna and Sienna Miller can't figure out what's real in the trippy, exhausting "Wander Darkly" salon.com Director-writer Tara Miele creates a slippery narrative that shifts from life to death, and possibly purgatory…
(2020-12-11). 'Defacto Human Experiment:' Mary + Polly Discuss Rollout of Pfizer Vaccine in UK, Danger of Vaccinating Elderly + More. globalresearch.ca In "This Week," Mary and Polly discuss the latest COVID vaccine-related headline news, including the rollout of Pfizer's vaccine in the UK, concerns about vaccinating the elderly … and more. | *** | This week marked the "landmark" rollout of the …
(2020-12-11). Friday 12/18: "Riffing for the Georgia Runoffs" Live Virtual Comedy w/ Patton Oswalt & Sarah Silverman. indybay.org Live Virtual Show…
(2020-12-11). Fighting From Federal Death Row in My Friend Brandon Bernard's Memory. thenation.com Fighting From Federal Death Row in My Friend Brandon Bernard's Memory…
(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 …
(2020-12-11). How Australia Sabotaged Its Own Interests in Relations with China. asia-pacificresearch.com …
(2020-12-11). MN Legislators to Visit Line 3 Construction Area Sunday to Express Solidarity With Pipeline Opponents. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2020-12-11). Charter Schools Bully Teachers. dissidentvoice.org It is no accident that fewer than three percent of the nation's roughly 7,300 charter schools are operated by teachers and that 90% of charter schools do not have a teachers union. So much for the narrative that charter schools started nearly 30 years ago to empower teachers. Some states even allow charter schools to …
(2020-12-11). Building back a better Africa policy should not mean going back to old ways. zcomm.org The bottom line is that U.S. Africa policy will be most productive if U.S. policymakers are willing to learn and collaborate rather than to preach or dictate…
(2020-12-11). Sunday 12/13: CA Poor People's Campaign Chapters Town Hall: PPC Demands for First 100 Days. indybay.org Online town hall, please join us!
(2020-12-11). From senseless working to senseless learning. indybay.org Today, the education system is seen almost exclusively as a supplier to the economic process. The traditional ideological superstructure of schools, universities and adult education, the orientation toward 'comprehensive education', has receded far into the background.
(2020-12-11). House Backs Decriminalizing Pot. zcomm.org Voters OK Legalization Ballot Initiatives…
(2020-12-11). 'Without Decency and Without Dignity': German Newsweekly Der Spiegel Names Trump 'Loser of the Year'. commondreams.org "The country is more divided than ever since the times of the Civil War. This is not a by-product of Trump's politics, it is their goal." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/loser_trump_0.jpg …
(2020-12-11). Rebekah Jones, Florida's COVID-19 whistleblower, says Gov. DeSantis has health officials "terrified" salon.com After campaigning for transparency in COVID-19 case reporting, Jones' home was raided by armed agents…
(2020-12-11). 'Harebrained' Texas Election Lawsuit a Serious GOP Attack on Democracy, Warn Experts. commondreams.org {olitical observers on Friday warned that Texas's legal challenge of the election results, which has garnered the support of more than 100 Republican officials, is nonetheless a sign that democracy is under significant attack in the United States. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-1219321528_1.jpg …
(2020-12-11). The 2020 Worldwide Corona Crisis: Destroying Civil Society, Engineered Economic Depression, Global Coup d'État and the "Great Reset" globalresearch.ca We are at the crossroads of one of the most serious crises in modern history. We are living history, yet our understanding of the flow of events since January 2020 has been blurred. Worldwide, people have been misled both by their governments and the media as to the causes and devastating consequences of the Covid-19 "pandemic".
(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 …
(2020-12-11). Is It Really Terry McAuliffe's Turn in Virginia—Again? thenation.com Is It Really Terry McAuliffe's Turn in Virginia—Again?
(2020-12-11). "Elephants in the Room": Scary 'R' Us: The Exaggerated Threat of Terrorism. globalresearch.ca This is the sixth in a series entitled Elephants In The Room, which attempts to provide a beginners guide to understanding what's really going on in relation to war, terrorism, economics and poverty, without the nonsense in the mainstream media….
(2020-12-11). Stand with Bookshop Santa Cruz Workers as they Organize a Union. indybay.org Bookshop Santa Cruz booksellers and other non-managerial staff have asked that store owner Casey Coonerty Protti voluntarily recognize their union with the Communication Workers of America Local 9423. Sign this petition in support: Stand with Bookshop Santa Cruz Workers as they Organize a Union!
(2020-12-11). NATO Is Determined to Find Threats and Challenges to Justify Its Existence. globalresearch.ca Government and media propaganda has firmly convinced most of the citizenry of the West that Russia invaded Crimea, and the truth has dissolved in the swirling miasma that the anti-Russia movement has dubbed as history. | In March 2014 the ethnically …
(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,
(2020-12-11). "Five Eyes Spy" Agreement Threatens New Zealand's Independence and Relationship with China? asia-pacificresearch.com …
(2020-12-11). 'Seems Like a Good Policy!' CBO Shows Medicare for All Could Cover Everyone for $650 Billion Less Per Year. commondreams.org The analysis shows that administrative costs under a single-payer healthcare system "will be lower than what even the most rabid Medicare for All supporters have traditionally claimed." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/m4a_2.jpg …
(2020-12-11). Republicans want more than a coup: Trump's loyalty test exposes their hatred for democracy. salon.com More than half of House Republicans and 17 GOP attorneys general have outed themselves as traitors…
(2020-12-11). Flying through a comet's tail and fighting fluorine: News from the College. imperial.ac.uk Here's a batch of fresh news and announcements from across Imperial.
(2020-12-11). Thursday 12/10: A Public Reading of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with the SF Gray Panthers. indybay.org Zoom…
(2020-12-11). Does the Chicken Price Fixing Scandal Surprise Anyone? counterpunch.org The modern chicken industry is among the most egregious in the world. Worker abuse, animal abuse, abuse of small farmers, pollution of waterways, contaminated food products and financial wrongdoing regularly appear in the news. Big fines have no effect on an industry in which one company can make as much as $41 billion a year. Yes billion.
(2020-12-11). Cracks Appear in Peru's Neoliberal Agriculture. dissidentvoice.org Farm workers in various regions of Peru- such as Ica, Viru La Libertad and Piurahad — went on a strike in the first week of December, 2020, blocking the strategic Pan-American motorway to demand wage increases, basic social security benefits and the repeal of the decades-old Agrarian Promotion Law, enacted in 2000, as a mechanism …
(2020-12-11). My Take on the US Elections: Voting for Corporate Figureheads is not Democracy. globalresearch.ca Interview with Prof. Dr. iur. et phil. Alfred de Zayas, international law expert and former UN mandate holder | *** | Thomas Kaiser: Zeitgeschehen im Fokus Professor de Zayas, you are an American citizen. What do you think about the course of …
(2020-12-11). Volunteer SCPD Homeless-Harasser Deb Elston's Ticketing Record. indybay.org For those seeking more information regarding the questionable ticketing behavior of the SCPD towards those whose only home is their vehicle, check out the record of Santa Cruz Neighbors organizer and Nextdoor boss Deborah Elston below.
(2020-12-11). 2020 National Juneteenth Holiday Bill still in process. indybay.org Texas Republican Senator Cornyn. As in legislative session, I ask unanimous | consent that the Senate Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration and the Senate now proceed to S. 4019; Juneteenth National Holiday; that the bill be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
(2020-12-11). What Happens if Something Goes Wrong after You Receive a COVID Vaccine? globalresearch.ca The bottom line is that if you are injured by a vaccine or other "countermeasure" designated by the DHHS Secretary as intended for a pandemic or bioterrorism threat (Covid-19, Pandemic Flu, Anthrax, Smallpox) your options for receiving any financial benefit …
(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 …
(2020-12-11). Why a "Re-Indigenization" of Society Makes Sense. counterpunch.org It may sound patently absurd to discuss a "re-Indigenization" of society. Yet, I argue not only is it practical but necessary if humanity is to survive into this century and beyond. Humans, for most of their history, lived as hunter-gatherers, for about the first 290,000 years or so. It is only in the last ten
(2020-12-11). The think tank industrial complex: Sowing doubt and disinformation. nationofchange.org Without some kind of regulation, unaccountable think tanks will continue to obscure the truth about the issues they present to the public and offer often financially lucrative revolving doors for politicians and policymakers as they leave government service.
(2020-12-11). Thursday 12/10: 2020 Sacramento Kwanzaa Wakanda Project. indybay.org Florin Square | Florin Road Partnership | Sacramento, California…
(2020-12-11). Thoughts on the Silence of Republican Lawmakers. indybay.org Coronavirus continues to devastate the country, with official deaths topping 281,000 today, but it turns out that the Trump administration did not actually have a plan for distribution of vaccines. Federal officials have drastically slashed the amount of vaccine they promised to states before the election. Instead of the 300 million doses, the plan is currently to distribute 35 to 40 million doses.
(2020-12-11). A tipping point for the defeat of fossil fuels? nationofchange.org How to stop Big Energy in its tracks (quite literally)…
(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…
(2020-12-10). Low Turnout, but Free, Elections in Venezuela Are a Blow To Regime Change. mintpressnews.com 
After four years of sanctions, sabotaged industries, attempted coups, an assassination by drone attempt, a mercenary incursion and paramilitary attacks, among others, Venezuela managed to survive the Trump administration's maximum pressure.
(2020-12-10). US Supreme Court rules Muslims placed on no-fly list can sue for damages. middleeasteye.net 
US Supreme Court rules Muslims placed on no-fly list can sue for damages | Ruling paves way for lawsuits against FBI officers who placed Muslims on travel blacklist for refusing to spy on their communities | Thu, 12/10/2020 – 21: 05 | In unanimous decision, court rules in favour of lead plaintiff (AFP/File photo) | The US Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that Muslim Americans who were placed on the…
(2020-12-10). Spilling Ink and Spilling Blood: Fighting and Writing Against America's Forever Wars. counterpunch.org 
If you have a moment, how about joining two retired officers, Bill Astore and me, Danny Sjursen, as we think about this country's catastrophic forever wars that, regardless of their deadly costs and lack of progress, never seem quite to end? Recently, in a podcast chat about our very different but somehow twin journeys through
(2020-12-10). Evo Morales: In Venezuela there was a Democratic 'Fiesta' on December 6. mronline.org 
"There is peace, tranquility and yesterday there was a great democratic 'fiesta'," the former president of Bolivia and international observer of Venezuela's elections, Evo Morales, emphasized this Monday.
(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…
(2020-12-10). Hanukkah is about resistance. Let's resist this COVID spike through mutual aid. peoplesworld.org 
With Hanukkah now upon us, the internet is abuzz with articles offering guidance on how to celebrate the holiday in the age of COVID-19. While most of them focus on practical issues such as socially distanced Hanukkah parties and Zoom candle lightings, I've been thinking a great deal on what the story of Hanukkah might have to offer to all …
(2020-12-10). An icy rally with burning demands. mronline.org 
The survival of polar bears, we know, is sadly threatened. The survival of a more colorful bear species seems assured. HARIBO (an acronym of HAns RIegel BOnn), which makes those little "gold bears" sweets, was founded in a laundry room in 1920.
(2020-12-10). The value of addicts' lives. workers.org 
Supporters of safe injection sites in Philadelphia rallied outside this week's federal hearing. The judge's ultimate ruling will determine if the proposed "Safehouse" facility to prevent deaths from opioid overdose would violate the federal Controlled Substances Act. Philadelphia has the reputation of being a major heroin haven on the East . . . |
(2020-12-10). Spoiled Meat: the Beef Industry in the United States. counterpunch.org 
In his 1909 short story, A Piece of Steak, originally published in the Saturday Evening Post, Jack London, America's first prominent and still greatest boxing writer, tells the tale of Tom King. King is a fighter well past his athletic prime with features that bear the scars of past battles: 'A nose, twice broken and
(2020-12-10). Grazing, Irrigation and Climate Change: the Uncertain Future of the Deschutes River. counterpunch.org 
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will soon decide whether to approve a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for the Deschutes River Basin. The HCP was initiated by local irrigators and the city of Prineville who want to maintain their privilege of using the public's water (all water in Oregon is owned by citizens) for their
(2020-12-10). In Paris, soccer players lay down 'marker' in fight against racism. peoplesworld.org 
AP—Players have taken a knee, unfurled slogans and demanded tougher action only to find soccer — their working environment — remains infected with racism. The tipping point might just have come, with elite players in Paris taking the extraordinary step of refusing to continue playing. At the end of a year of striking gestures against …
(2020-12-10). One Question: How Have the Black Lives Matter Protests Impacted the Prison Abolition Movement? progressive.org Q: How Have the Black Lives Matter Protests Impacted the Prison Abolition Movement?
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(2020-12-10). Wednesday 12/9: Book Talk: Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City" w/ author Matthew Desmond. indybay.org Online event (FREE)…
(2020-12-10). Net Worth of US Billionaires Has Soared by $1 Trillion to Total of $4 Trillion Since Pandemic Began. globalresearch.ca The collective wealth of America's 651 billionaires has jumped by over $1 trillion since roughly the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to a total of $4 trillion at market close on Monday, December 7, 2020. Their wealth growth since March …
(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 …
(2020-12-10). Australia: Exporting Weapons Is a Clear and Present Danger. asia-pacificresearch.com …
(2020-12-10). Biden's Defense Secretary Pick Shows the Revolving Door for Military Contractors Remains. globalresearch.ca Pres ≠i ≠dent-elect Joe Biden has tapped retired Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III for the pow ≠er ≠ful role of defense sec ≠re ≠tary, news out ≠lets revealed Decem ≠ber 7. Spec ≠u ≠la ≠tion over who Biden would pick had been brew ≠ing for weeks. All three top con ≠tenders for …
(2020-12-10). A Guide to Giving: Worst Year Ever Edition. thenation.com A Guide to Giving: Worst Year Ever Edition…
(2020-12-10). Thursday 12/10: Human Right's Day Virtual Gathering w/ National Union of the Homeless & NWRU. indybay.org Online via livestream: YouTube & FB…
(2020-12-10). Saturday 12/12: Virtual Vigil Supporting Healthcare Workers & Abolishing Healthcare Profiteering. indybay.org Online livestream…
(2020-12-10). Saturday 12/12: Root Division Presents: Family Matters. indybay.org Online Virtual Reception…
(2020-12-10). Nigerians call for a "second wave" of protests after police officer kills a young man. thecanary.co On 10 December, a Nigerian police officer shot and
(2020-12-10). "40 Years a Prisoner" confronts the police we're supposed to trust "telling bold-faced lies" salon.com Mike Africa, Jr., who was born in prison, appeared on "Salon Talks" to discuss MOVE and freeing his parents…
(2020-12-10). Farmers Reject Shah's Offer; Give Another 'Delhi Chalo' Call for Dec 14. zcomm.org The plan to intensify the agitation also includes: nationwide protests at district headquarters, an ultimatum to block Delhi-Jaipur highway, and boycotting of Reliance products…
(2020-12-10). Lawsuit Filed to Halt Voter Suppression in the Runoff Senate Elections in Georgia. globalresearch.ca After the third certification of the results of the presidential elections in the state of Georgia, efforts are underway to ensure equal access to the franchise leading up to the pivotal race to determine the composition of the United States …
(2020-12-10). I Know Rahm Emanuel, and He Shouldn't Be Anywhere Near the White House. thenation.com I Know Rahm Emanuel, and He Shouldn't Be Anywhere Near the White House…
(2020-12-10). The shirkers united will never be defeated. zcomm.org We need collective solidarity and organizing among welfare claimants as Covid-19's economic fallout threatens to render thousands jobless…
(2020-12-10). "Best American Food Writing" spotlights kitchen abuse and the curious reformation of bad-boy chefs. salon.com Co-editor J. Kenji López-Alt spoke with Salon about some of the more provocative essays from this new collection…
(2020-12-10). Will Joe Biden "Revise" U.S Agenda in Syria? Use Terrorism Pretext to "Keep Boots on the Ground"? globalresearch.ca The mayhem of the presidential elections left the American policy-makers locked in heated arguments about the future of the US domestic and foreign policy alike. One of the most pressing issues on the agenda is the Middle East developments, especially …
(2020-12-10). The U.S. Constitution is hopelessly outdated. It's time to re-envision it. salon.com Americans view the constitution as a sacred text, even as its flaws are becoming more glaring…
(2020-12-10). The long struggle for a post-capitalist society. indybay.org The (Corona) crisis has relentlessly exposed the inability of neoliberal capitalism and its political personnel to meet the elementary needs of the people. Even if it is not felt to the same extent in Germany due to the depressing political conditions: the neoliberal offensive is in a deep existential crisis after 40 years in which it was able to achieve global hegemony.
(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 …
(2020-12-10). Make the Corn Belt a Carbon Belt. progressive.org The fact is, the billions spent on the farm sector today are neither protecting the future of U.S. agriculture nor preserving the traditional family farm.
(2020-12-10). Overcoming the Urban-Rural Divide, Part 2. zcomm.org What we've been doing clearly has not been working, and almost surely has been making things worse. We must acknowledge this, and then begin to try new ways of thinking, of acting and of communicating…
(2020-12-10). World Economic Forum 2021 Moved to Singapore Due to COVID-19. asia-pacificresearch.com …
(2020-12-10). Preventing Spike in Evictions Will Help Limit COVID-19's Spread. commondreams.org Evicted families' limited housing options increase their contact with others and limit their ability to social distance, quarantine, access appropriate health services, or practice recommended hand hygiene. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/eviction_crisis_0.jpg …
(2020-12-10). The British Labour Party's Anti-Semitism Problem. thenation.com The British Labour Party's Anti-Semitism Problem…
(2020-12-10). [Commentary] We have to get it right: Ensuring success. thelancet.com Eleanor Roosevelt said, "Life is like a parachute jump; you've got to get it right the first time." With a spate of Covid-19 vaccines on the horizon, we must prepare to jump.
(2020-12-10). Children's Health Defense (CHD): Life-Threatening Allergic Reactions to Pfizer COVID Vaccine. globalresearch.ca In August, CHD asked regulators to investigate the use of polyethylene glycol (PEG) in COVID mRNA vaccines, which could have caused the severe allergic reactions reported this week by two of the first UK recipients of Pfizer's vaccine. | *** | Media …
(2020-12-10). Activists Fight Voter Suppression in Georgia Runoffs. zcomm.org Groups go to court to reverse wrongful purge of 200,000 voters that could have significant impact on the election's outcome…
(2020-12-10). Advocates Fear New Wave of Anti-Worker Laws Pushed by Big Tech. zcomm.org Ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft scored a major victory with the passage of Proposition 22 in California, and worker rights advocates fear they will push similar measures in other states…
(2020-12-10). Palm Oil Giant Wilmar Unfazed as Watchdogs Cry Foul over Papua Deforestation. asia-pacificresearch.com …
(2020-12-10). Consumer Price Index: Rental Inflation Has Slowed Sharply Since the Pandemic. cepr.net (This is a compilation of Dean Baker's quick-take analysis over Twitter. Follow @DeanBaker13 on Twitter to get his quick-take analysis of government data immediately upon release.) Overall and core CPI both rose 0.2 percent in November. Overall CPI is up 1.2 percent year-over-year. Core CPI is up 1.6 percent year-over-year. Store bought food prices fell …
(2020-12-10). Israel's Honeymoon with the United Arab Emirates Is Grotesque. globalresearch.ca Since normalizing relations in September, Israel and the United Arab Emirates have teamed up to do what both do best: trample on democratic freedoms, commit atrocities, and whitewash occupation. | *** | Back in 2010, the New York Times' Thomas Friedman …
(2020-12-10). So When Can I Get the Covid Vaccine? thenation.com So When Can I Get the Covid Vaccine?
(2020-12-10). The Vanishing Queer Underground of Los Angeles. thenation.com The Vanishing Queer Underground of Los Angeles…
(2020-12-10). Two Chavista Blocs, Two Voices: Venezuelan Parliamentary Candidates Speak. zcomm.org On Sunday Venezuelans will choose their new National Assembly and they have many options…
(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 …
(2020-12-09). Wednesday 12/9: National Digital Rally to #StopLine3 w/ Indigenous Frontline Water Protectors & More. indybay.org Online rally against pipelines & dirty fossil fuels…
(2020-12-09). Pakistan and Saudi Arabia: Why Kashmir won't stop Riyadh's rush to embrace India. middleeasteye.net 
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia: Why Kashmir won't stop Riyadh's rush to embrace India | Pakistan's old relationship with Saudi Arabia has deteriorated under Imran Khan as India draws closer to the Gulf kingdom | Wed, 12/09/2020 – 15: 30 | Pakistan's army chief was snubbed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman when he was sent to apologise for its foreign minister's criticism (Reuters) | Pakistan'
(2020-12-09). Those Who Don't Fear the Lobby. dissidentvoice.org 
With the encouragement of friends and after serving eleven terms in the U.S. House of Representatives (1961-1983), Congressman Paul Findley (R-IL) wrote a book, They Dare to Speak Out, about influences and pressures inside the Israeli lobby. His was the first book to point out ways the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), along with …
(2020-12-09). Kroger workers demand a just contract. workers.org 
Houston Essential workers at Kroger grocery stores in Houston have been campaigning for public support outside stores this fall. Kroger workers are members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 455, which covers parts of Texas and Louisiana. Gloria Rubac on the picket line with Kroger workers. "Kroger is trying . . . |
(2020-12-09). Obama's Memoir Offers Insights Into Major Shortcomings. counterpunch.org 
We have a complicated country and Barack Obama was a complicated president. In terms of presidential performance and temperament, Obama was one of our best. His inheritance from the mediocre George W. Bush was wretched, and, in view of the ugly racist opposition that he faced, Obama played his political and economic hand better than
(2020-12-09). What Does the Esau Revolution Despise? counterpunch.org 
And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint; And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profits shall this birthright do me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day;
(2020-12-09). The "Great Reset" or the "Great Pretext" … for Dystopia. globalresearch.ca In their World Economic Forum treatise Covid-19: The Great Reset, economists Klaus Schwab and Thierry Malleret bring us the voice of would-be Global Governance. | *** | By titling their recently published World Economic Forum treatise Covid-19: The Great Reset, the authors …
(2020-12-09). Want to fight climate change? Start by protecting these endangered species. nationofchange.org Giant forest elephants and blue whales play an enormous role in climate sequestration. Can putting a financial value on that role help conserve them—and us?>
(2020-12-09). Viral Michigan witness won't quarantine after Rudy Giuliani and Jenna Ellis test positive for COVID. salon.com Melissa Carone, whose testimony last week went viral, says she won't get tested unless OANN and Newsmax tell her to…
(2020-12-09). Wednesday 12/9: Stand Together SF: Systemic Racism and How it has Affected the Asian and Black Communities. indybay.org Online via Zoom…
(2020-12-09). Pathologist Petitions FDA to Halt Pfizer Emergency Use Authorization Until Vaccine Efficacy Confirmed. globalresearch.ca Connecticut pathologist Dr. Sin Hang Lee and Informed Consent Action Network (ICAN) have "Until an accurate count of …
(2020-12-09). Thursday 12/10: The Climate Convergence: Uniting For Victory in 2021 Symposium (Day 2). indybay.org Online symposium (free or donation)…
(2020-12-09). What exactly is Erdoganism? zcomm.org What exactly is Erdoganism?>
(2020-12-09). Mickey Huff and Andy Lee Roth discuss the New Project Censored Book. projectcensored.org Today on the Project Censored Show Mickey Huff and Andy Lee Roth discuss the new Project Censored book, and explain its analytical approach. Project Censored's new annual volume, "State of…
(2020-12-09). Demanding Safeway Put an End to Restrictive Covenants this Human Rights Day. indybay.org North Bay Labor Council Joins Food Empowerment Project on Human Rights Day in Demanding Safeway Put an End to Their Restrictive Covenants!
(2020-12-09). Black Dirt Farm Collective: Building a Self-Sufficient Community. counterpunch.org The Black Dirt Farm Collective is currently funded by grants, donations, and income from their training programs, but they are working toward building an Afroecological village that is self-sustaining and autonomous from wealthy donors. This interview with the Maryland-based collective's shakara tyler and Blain Snipstal is the second in a series highlighting grassroots organizations working,
(2020-12-09). Pearl Harbor and the Bay of Pigs. globalresearch.ca U.S. officials have long criticized Japan for its supposedly unprovoked military attack on Pearl Harbor, which enabled President Roosevelt to fulfill his desire to intervene into World War II. As I showed in