Veteran diplomat: US confronts China to protect supremacy, not security
Aaron Maté | thegrayzone.com | 2020-12-26
Veteran US diplomat Chas Freeman says that despite talk of a New Cold War between the US and China, the US in reality is reacting aggressively to a rising Chinese power whose economic gains threaten US global supremacy. “We’ve become accustomed over the past 75 years to be the overlord in East Asia,” Freeman says. Chas Freeman, who served in top State Department positions and as Richard Nixon’s chief interpreter on his historic 1972 visit to China, discusses the state …
thegrayzone.com/2020/12/25/veteran-diplo…
The Year in Bad
Mark Fiore | progressive.org | 2020-12-26
How do I hate thee, 2020? Let me count the ways. Sure, there was plenty of cartoon material, but I’d have much rather we had a boring ol’ year. No such luck this turn around the sun.
progressive.org/dispatches/the-year-in-b…
Tuesday 12/29: COVID-19 Vaccine & the Black Community: Safety, Efficacy & Dispelling Fear
FB Post Feed: NAACP Silicon Valley | indybay.org | 2020-12-26
Online via Zoom…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/12/26/1883909…
First batch of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine arrives in Spain as EU begins rollout
Online News Editor | laprensalatina.com | 2020-12-26
Madrid, Dec 26 (efe-epa). The first batch of the Pfizer/BioNtech Covid-19 vaccine arrived in Spain on Saturday, a day before the country is set to begin the rollout of the jab. The first delivery was delivered to a logistics center in Guadalajara, central Spain, from where it will be distributed to the country’s 17 provinces. …
laprensalatina.com/first-batch-of-pfizer…
The DC Political Monopoly Just Doesn’t Get It
_____ | popularresistance.org | 2020-12-26
The spectacle of political “leaders” disconnected from basic social realities survived Trump’s defeat. He and his GOP had shown little grasp of the two great crises of 2020: the crash of capitalism and the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump’s resulting political defeat did not reconnect them. The Biden Democrats already show they learned little from Trump’s loss; disconnection governs them too. | A basic social reality of the United States is its capitalist economic system that organizes enterprises internally into a small minority (employers) dominating the majority (employees), with markets to distribute resources and pr…
popularresistance.org/the-dc-political-m…
How COVID-19 Hollowed Out A Generation Of Young Black Men
_____ | popularresistance.org | 2020-12-26
While COVID-19 has killed 1 out of every 800 African Americans, a toll that overwhelms the imagination, even more stunning is the deadly efficiency with which it has targeted young Black men like Bates. One study using data through July found that Black people ages 35 to 44 were dying at nine times the rate of white people the same age, though the gap slightly narrowed later in the year. And in an analysis for ProPublica this summer using the only reliable data at the time accounting for age, race and gender, from Michigan and Georgia, Harvard researcher Tamara Rushovich found that the disparity was greatest in B…
popularresistance.org/how-covid-19-hollo…
Beijing district declares emergency after new Covid-19 outbreak
Online News Editor | laprensalatina.com | 2020-12-26
Beijing, Dec 26 (efe-epa).- A district in northeastern Beijing has declared an emergency after five new Covid-19 cases were detected in the area, following two local infections on Christmas Day, health authorities said Saturday. Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s deputy head Pang Xinghuo told reporters that five patients tested positive after 5,000 people …
laprensalatina.com/beijing-district-decl…
Thousands of trucks make it back to continent after UK backlog
Online News Editor | laprensalatina.com | 2020-12-26
London, Dec 26 (efe-epa).- Thousands of truckers who had been stuck in the south of England after France closed its borders with the United Kingdom amid concerns of a new variant of Covid-19 have on Sunday made it back to the continent, according to the British government. UK transport secretary, Grant Shapps, said all the …
laprensalatina.com/thousands-of-trucks-m…
Tokyo reports 949 new Covid-19 cases
Online News Editor | laprensalatina.com | 2020-12-26
Tokyo, Dec 26 (efe-epa).- Authorities in Tokyo on Saturday reported a record 949 Covid-19 infections in the last 24 hours a day after Japan’s health ministry confirmed the first cases of a United Kingdom-linked variant of the coronavirus in the country. Nationwide there were 3,831 new Covid-19 infections in the Asian country, bringing the overall …
laprensalatina.com/tokyo-reports-949-new…
‘Freedom Is Blossoming’: After Dismembering a Journalist, Saudi Arabia Goes on a PR Spree
Alan MacLeod | commondreams.org | 2020-12-26
Behind the media and money blitz, the kingdom remains one of the world’s worst human rights violators—both at home and abroad. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
commondreams.org/views/2020/12/26/freedo…
A Country in Turmoil
Ramzy Baroud | zcomm.org | 2020-12-26
Why Netanyahu is a Symptom, Not Cause of Israel’s Political Crisis…
zcomm.org/znetarticle/a-country-in-turmo…
Hamas says ‘barbaric’ Israeli strike damaged children’s hospital in Gaza
MEE and agencies | middleeasteye.net | 2020-12-26
Hamas says ‘barbaric’ Israeli strike damaged children’s hospital in Gaza | Medical sources in the besieged enclave said the strikes ‘lightly wounded’ two civilians, including a child | MEE and agencies | Sat, 12/26/2020 – 15: 27 | Israel has maintained a crippling blockade of the Gaza Strip since 2007, which critics say amounts to collective punishment of the impoverished enclave’s two million residents (Fil…
www.middleeasteye.net/news/gaza-israel-b…
www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/file…
Deadly fire hits Egyptian hospital treating Covid-19 patients
MEE and agencies | middleeasteye.net | 2020-12-26
Deadly fire hits Egyptian hospital treating Covid-19 patients | At least seven people killed and several injured at a private hospital on the outskirts of Cairo | MEE and agencies | Sat, 12/26/2020 – 13: 03 | The hospital was evacuated and closed, while patients were transferred to a public hospital in Cairo (AFP) | A fire killed at least seven people and injured several others on Saturday at a private hospi…
www.middleeasteye.net/news/egypt-hospita…
www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/file…
Palestinians, Advocates Blast New U.S. Rule Requiring ‘Made in Israel’ Label on Settlement Goods
Brett Wilkins, staff writer | commondreams.org | 2020-12-26
“Such a decision attempts to legitimize settlement-manufactured goods as well as the theft of Palestinian land and products,” said Palestine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
commondreams.org/news/2020/12/26/palesti…
Israel attacks Hamas positions in Gaza in response to rocket launches
Online News Editor | laprensalatina.com | 2020-12-26
Jerusalem, Dec 26 (efe-epa).- Israel attacked military targets of the Islamist movement Hamas in Gaza early Saturday in response to two rockets fired towards it a few hours before, according to official sources. Fighter jets of the Israeli forces attacked several Hamas positions, including a rocket manufacturing facility, a military outpost and an underground infrastructure, …
laprensalatina.com/israel-attacks-hamas-…
Dairyland in denial: Red states & the myth of the real American
Thomas Magstadt | nationofchange.org | 2020-12-26
Unless or until progressives start to recognize the cost of losing the underpopulated red states in Middle America, ultra-right-wing Republicans will continue to have power in Washington all out of proportion to the popular will.
nationofchange.org/2020/12/26/dairyland-…
China Has the World’s Largest Economy: Get Over It
Dean Baker | cepr.net | 2020-12-26
It is more than a bit annoying to hear reporters endlessly refer to China as the world’s second largest economy. It isn’t. It’s the world’s largest economy and has been since 2017. Here are the data from the International Monetary Fund. Source: International Monetary Fund. As the chart shows, China’s economy first passed the U.S. …
cepr.net/china-has-the-worlds-largest-ec…
cepr.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Book…
Roundup: UK coronavirus strain detected in Europe ahead of vaccine rollout
Online News Editor | laprensalatina.com | 2020-12-26
Madrid Desk, Dec 26 (efe-epa).- Deliveries of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine were distributed across the European Union on Saturday ahead of a unified rollout by member states just as Spain and France confirmed their first cases of the contagious British coronavirus variant. Meanwhile, Germans awoke to a tightened lockdown after a slight reprieve for Christmas Day …
laprensalatina.com/roundup-uk-coronaviru…
The New York Times Hasn’t Heard About China’s Vaccines
Dean Baker | cepr.net | 2020-12-26
That is the implication of a major piece on how the coronavirus vaccines are leading to greater worldwide inequality, since the rich countries have reserved the vast majority of the 2021 supplies of vaccines of the leading U.S.-European vaccines. While this is in fact a serious problem, as my co-authors and I have noted, China …
cepr.net/the-new-york-times-hasnt-heard-…
Winter snow whitens Bojnurd
Mehr News Agency | en.mehrnews.com | 2020-12-26
BOJNURD, Dec. 26 (MNA) — Winter snowfall has covered Bojnurd, the capital city of North Khorasan Province in Iran.
en.mehrnews.com/news/167664/Winter-snow-…
US must be forced to lift sanctions: Expediency Council Sec
Mehr News Agency | en.mehrnews.com | 2020-12-26
TEHRAN, Dec. 26 (MNA) — Stating that country needs creative and innovative managers to take advantages of available resources optimally, Secretary of Expediency Council said that United States must be forced to lift sanctions imposed against country.
en.mehrnews.com/news/167669/US-must-be-f…
VIDEO: Fire devours famous restaurant in Riyadh
Mehr News Agency | en.mehrnews.com | 2020-12-26
TEHRAN, Dec. 26 (MNA) — A large fire destroyed a famous restaurant in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Friday before the civil defense teams could manage to extinguish it.
en.mehrnews.com/news/167665/VIDEO-Fire-d…
New catalyst converts carbon dioxide into jet fuel
Mehr News Agency | en.mehrnews.com | 2020-12-26
TEHRAN, Dec. 26 (MNA) — A new iron-based catalyst converts carbon dioxide into jet fuel and such technology could one day cut greenhouse gas emissions from air travel.
en.mehrnews.com/news/167660/New-catalyst…
Fatemieh mourning ceremony observed in Tehran
Mehr News Agency | en.mehrnews.com | 2020-12-26
TEHRAN, Dec. 26 (MNA) — The mourning ceremony of Fatemieh Days, marking the martyrdom anniversary of Hazrat Fatemeh (PBUH) was held in Tehran with the speech of Hojjatoleslam Rafiei.
en.mehrnews.com/photo/167640/Fatemieh-mo…
VIDEO: Late December snow in Mazandaran
Mehr News Agency | en.mehrnews.com | 2020-12-26
SARI, Dec. 27 (MNA) — Heavy snowfall in different parts of Mazandaran, including Savadkuh County, has given an amazing wintery look to the province and the temperature drops below 20 degrees in these mountainous areas.
en.mehrnews.com/news/167649/VIDEO-Late-D…
Iraqis hold rally to commemorate martyrs of resistance
Mehr News Agency | en.mehrnews.com | 2020-12-26
TEHRAN, Dec. 26 (MNA) — Thousands of Iraqi people held a rally in the capital Baghdad to condemn the assassination of Martyr Lt. Gen. Qassem Soleimani and the Second-in-Command of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMU) Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.
en.mehrnews.com/news/167668/Iraqis-hold-…
Fatemieh mourning ceremony held in Tehran
Mehr News Agency | en.mehrnews.com | 2020-12-26
TEHRAN, Dec. 26 (MNA) –The mourning ceremony of the martyrdom of Hazrat Zahra (SA), the daughter of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), was held on Friday night in Tehran’s Husseiniyeh of Noor al-Reza through observing health protocols.
en.mehrnews.com/photo/167655/Fatemieh-mo…
IRGC Ground Force commander visits NW borders
Mehr News Agency | en.mehrnews.com | 2020-12-26
TEHRAN, Dec. 26 (MNA) — The commander of IRGC Ground Force Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour visited the Aras border area on Monday.
en.mehrnews.com/news/167662/IRGC-Ground-…
Iranian play “Marion” goes on stage at Moroccan festival
Mehr News Agency | en.mehrnews.com | 2020-12-26
TEHRAN, Dec. 26 (MNA) — The Iranian play “Marion” directed by Hamed Asgharzadeh was performed in Morocco at the International University Theater Festival of Casablanca.
en.mehrnews.com/news/167657/Iranian-play…
A landing craft ship capsized in S Iran
Mehr News Agency | en.mehrnews.com | 2020-12-26
TEHRAN, Dec. 26 (MNA) — A landing craft ship capsized 25 miles southeast of Lark and efforts are underway to save lives of seven crew members of the ship by marine search and rescue teams in the area.
en.mehrnews.com/news/167671/A-landing-cr…
Iran, Armenia discuss gas exports, barter
Mehr News Agency | en.mehrnews.com | 2020-12-26
TEHRAN, Dec. 26 (MNA) — The heads of the Iranian and Armenian delegations have held constructive talks on gas exports and extension of a gas-for-electricity barter contract.
en.mehrnews.com/news/167666/Iran-Armenia…
Iran’s Cinema Verite enjoys special place in World
Mehr News Agency | en.mehrnews.com | 2020-12-26
TEHRAN, Dec. 26 (MNA) — Iran’s Cinema Verite enjoys a special place in the world. This type of filmmaking is a gateway to the world of cinema that has a great impact on its audience.
en.mehrnews.com/news/167661/Iran-s-Cinem…
Iran’s exports to top five European destinations up 7%
Mehr News Agency | en.mehrnews.com | 2020-12-26
TEHRAN, Dec. 26 (MNA) — Iran’s exports to five top European destinations amounted to ‚Ǩ493.7 million during the January-October 2020, indicating a 7% growth compared with the similar period of last year.
en.mehrnews.com/news/167658/Iran-s-expor…
Moscow backs amb. comments on Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Mehr News Agency | en.mehrnews.com | 2020-12-26
TEHRAN, Dec. 26 (MNA) — Moscow said it is surprised by the Israeli regime’s aggravated reaction to the issues raised by Russian Ambassador Anatoly Viktorov on West Asia’s issues, adding that it backs his comments on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
en.mehrnews.com/news/167651/Moscow-backs…
Iranian, Indian knowledge-based firms to develop interactions
Mehr News Agency | en.mehrnews.com | 2020-12-26
TEHRAN, Dec. 26 (MNA) — Iranian and Indian knowledge-based and technological companies will hold an online meeting on Jan. 31 for promoting export.
en.mehrnews.com/news/167653/Iranian-Indi…
Four ISIL terrorists arrested in Republic of Dagestan
Mehr News Agency | en.mehrnews.com | 2020-12-26
TEHRAN, Dec. 26 (MNA) — Federal security Service (FSB) of Russian Federation revealed the arrest of four ISIL terrorists in the Republic of Dagestan before carrying out a terrorist operation.
en.mehrnews.com/news/167667/Four-ISIL-te…
The Violent Story Of American Whiteness
_____ | popularresistance.org | 2020-12-26
The United States of America is a white suprema ≠cist nation. It always has been. Its white founders, ven ≠er ≠at ≠ed and lion ≠ized though they are in text ≠books and on cour ≠t ≠house lawns, explic ≠it ≠ly intend ≠ed the coun ≠try to be this way. The country’s found ≠ing doc ≠u ≠ments make that goal clear. Through the cen ≠turies, the pre ≠dom ≠i ≠nant ≠ly white rul ≠ing class has worked over ≠time to uphold this sta ≠tus quo, even as the goal ≠posts peri ≠od ≠i ≠cal ≠ly shift. A trio of new books delve into this rot ≠ten hea…
popularresistance.org/violent-story-amer…
Christmas Visions: Children and the Importance of Redemption
Caoimhghin àì Croidheáin | globalresearch.ca | 2020-12-26
The Factory | “And such should childhood ever be, | The fairy well; to bring | To life’s worn, weary memory | The freshness of its spring. | But here the order is reversed, | And infancy, like age, | Knows of existence but its worst, | One …
globalresearch.ca/christmas-visions-chil…
Police say possible human remains found near Nashville explosion site
Online News Editor | laprensalatina.com | 2020-12-26
Washington, Dec 25 (efe-epa).- Authorities have found what they believe to be human remains near the site of a Christmas morning blast in the entertainment district of Nashville in the United States, police Chief John Drake said on Friday. Police have not confirmed human fatalities from the blast in the downtown of the city. “We …
laprensalatina.com/police-say-possible-h…
A Lonely Christmas in Texas
Vincent Emanuele | zcomm.org | 2020-12-26
To date, 330,000+ Americans and 1.41 million additional humans have lost their lives due to this predictable, preventable, vicious, and indifferent virus. The best way to properly remember their lives is by taking care of the living…
zcomm.org/znetarticle/a-lonely-christmas…
The Forgotten Christmas Truce of 1914. Unlearned Lessons which could have Prevented a Century of War (1914 — 2014)
Dr. Gary G. Kohls | globalresearch.ca | 2020-12-26
It was exactly 106 years ago this month when the Christmas Truce of 1914 occurred, when Christian soldiers on both sides of the infamous No Man’s Land of the Western Front, recognized their common humanity, dropped their guns and fraternized …
globalresearch.ca/the-forgotten-christma…
10 times Imperial made us smile in 2020
imperial.ac.uk | 2020-12-26
This year has been far from typical, but Imperial College London has created some rainbows amongst the clouds.
imperial.ac.uk/news/210613/10-times-imperial-made-smile-2020
The real Corbyn ‘tragedy’ — and ‘Jewish Currents’ refusal to publish an opposing view
Tony Greenstein | zcomm.org | 2020-12-26
In a recent article on the “tragedy” of Jeremy Corbyn, Jewish Currents overlooks the rightwing bigoted records of those criticizing Corbyn because of his support for Palestinian rights…
zcomm.org/znetarticle/the-real-corbyn-tr…
How to navigate talking about feminism like a pro
Sophia Seawell | zcomm.org | 2020-12-26
The very mention of the f-word still turns too many conversations into arguments. Here are six tips for holding your own when the heat is on. #12DaysofResistance…
zcomm.org/znetarticle/how-to-navigate-ta…
‘Utterly baffling, without merit:’ University of Mississippi fires anti-racist professor
Liberation Staff-Mississippi | zcomm.org | 2020-12-26
All progressive and revolutionary people should stand in solidarity with Felber, Caffera and Thomas as well as the affected students, staff and other faculty in Oxford, as it is clear that UM caters to racist monied donors…
zcomm.org/znetarticle/utterly-baffling-w…
Restoring the soul of America
Robert Koehler | zcomm.org | 2020-12-26
Change is coming, one way or another. We can run from it and hide, and become its victim, or we can open our political soul and create the future…
zcomm.org/znetarticle/restoring-the-soul…
Justice for All Essential Workers
Andrew Moss | zcomm.org | 2020-12-26
In jobs where the risk of infection and even death stalks workers every day, the term “living wage” now takes on a new meaning…
zcomm.org/znetarticle/justice-for-all-es…
Brexit: Capitalism’s Civil War
George Monbiot | zcomm.org | 2020-12-26
“Farage and his ilk are just tools of something much bigger & much deeper than they are”
zcomm.org/zvideo/brexit-capitalisms-civi…
America’s Climate Fair Share
EcoEquity | zcomm.org | 2020-12-26
One recent study tells us that, under the climate shadow, ninety-seven per cent of young Americans are worried about having children of their own. We’re facing an emergency and we know it…
zcomm.org/znetarticle/americas-climate-f…
Turkish opposition TV station shuts after 26 days