(2021-12-22). The US Fights Asia, Not Just China. newatlas.report December 22, 2021 (Brian Berletic — NEO) — US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken cut short his tour of Southeast Asia due to concerns over COVID-19, the New York Times would report. The aborted trip comes at a time when the US finds itself struggling for relevance in a region it had once held considerably more …
(2021-12-22). Finance capital and the COVID-19 pandemic. wsws.org Since the interventions by central banks, led by the Fed, into financial markets, starting in March 2020, they have been buying financial assets at the rate of $800 million per hour.
(2021-12-22). A Pentagon Cover-Up: Azmat Khan on How U.S. Hid Thousands of Civilian Deaths in Middle East Air War. democracynow.org 
U.S. air power has been central in the country's wars in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq and elsewhere, with officials promising that drones and other sophisticated weapons allow the U.S. military to carry out precision airstrikes that spare civilians caught in war zones. But a groundbreaking investigation by The New York Times reveals the U.S. military's air wars have been plagued by bad intelligence, imprecise targeting and a lack of accountability for thousands of civilian deaths, many of them children. The two-part series by reporter Azmat Khan is based on a trove of internal Pentagon documents, as well as on-the-gr…
(2021-12-22). Airline industry pushes for return to full capacity as Omicron explosion begins. wsws.org Officials for the major airline corporations testified before Congress to push for further support in getting travel to pre-pandemic levels despite the spread of the new Omicron variant and increasing positive cases.
(2021-12-22). Biden announces more measures to battle Omicron. ecns.cn U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced a new plan to increase testing, speed up vaccination and boost the capacity of hospitals that could be strained in the coming weeks amid surging cases driven by the highly transmissible Omicron variant.
(2021-12-22). Investment Manager Peter Schiff: Bitcoin Is A Craze And All Crazes End, It's Not An Inflation Hedge. moguldom.com Gold investor and crypto critic Peter Schiff said Bitcoin is just a craze that will eventually come to an end like a pyramid scheme. Bitcoin has fallen some 30 percent since its $67,000+ peak in November 2021 in a selloff after news broke about the omicron coronavirus variant. The largest cryptocurrency by market value is still up …
(2021-12-22). Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: Experts urge COVID-19 boosters to fight omicron surge. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org More Americans are now eligible for COVID-19 booster doses as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved the Pfizer vaccine booster for 16- and 17-year-olds late last week. Previously, only those 18 and older were eligible. Early research suggests that a booster dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine improves protection against severe disease caused by the omicron variant, according to Pfizer. Mayo Clinic experts say, regardless of the variant, prevention of infection works. Getting…
(2021-12-22). An expert's take on what omicron tells us about the state of the pandemic. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Researchers at Mayo Clinic and around the world continue to monitor the omicron variant and study how it behaves. Dr. Gregory Poland, head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group, who has decades of experience in the field of infectious diseases, offers some insight into what the emergence of omicron tells us about the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic and where it may be headed. Watch: Dr. Gregory Poland discusses the state of the pandemic. youtu.be/VYpUsGCayZQ…
(2021-12-22). German government refuses to take action to avert Omicron disaster. wsws.org The criminal inaction of European governments has allowed the highly contagious Omicron variant to spread across the continent. To this day, the German government refuses to take any action to prevent the looming catastrophe.
(2021-12-22). Major countries should shoulder responsibilities amid Omicron surges: Chinese ambassador. ecns.cn Major countries must shoulder their responsibilities, take the lead to provide COVID-19 vaccines for low-and middle-income countries, and help them foster production capacity as the Omicron variant is rapidly spreading around the globe.
(2021-12-22). New Yorkers offered holiday booster deal. rt.com 
The New York City government has vowed to shell out $100 to any resident who receives a Covid-19 vaccine booster shot before the end of the year, unveiling yet another cash incentive program amid panic over the Omicron strain. | Outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio "We want everyo…
(2021-12-22). OMS confirma presencia de variante àìmicron en 106 países. telesurtv.net La OMS precisó que la propagación de Ómicron es rápida, a pesar de la transmisión comunitaria.
(2021-12-22). The Omicron surge: Scientific facts vs. Biden's fictions. wsws.org Beyond telling the unvaccinated to get inoculated, Biden advanced no plan to stop the ongoing massive spread of the Omicron variant and the infection of millions of people in the coming weeks.
(2021-12-22). Britain's National Health Service faces disaster as Omicron surges. wsws.org Modelling by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies found that between 3,000 and 10,000 people a day could be hospitalised if the government did not immediately implement further public health measures.
(2021-12-22). Ambassador Qin Gang Attends the Virtual Meeting on Covid-19 Omicron Variant Held by the U.S. Side. ecns.cn On December 21, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken‚Äöhosted the Virtual Meeting on COVID-19 Omicron Variant, which is joined by several foreign ministers and representatives of regional organizations, discussing issues such as the global impact of and response to the Covid-19 Omicron Variant. Ambassador Qin Gang, as Representative of State Councilor and Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi, attended the meeting and delivered remarks.
(2021-12-22). Mayo Clinic expert explains why getting the COVID-19 vaccine is more important than ever. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Vaccine drugmaker Pfizer says its studies show three doses of its COVID-19 vaccine neutralized the omicron variant while two doses reduced severity. "These are studies where they try to look at how much antibody does it take to neutralize the virus in a test tube," says Dr. John O'Horo, an infectious diseases specialist at Mayo Clinic. "What they found in these studies is that you need a significantly higher titer, or concentration of antibodies, to…
(2021-12-22). COVID-Omicron is Killing Christmas — And Beyond. Financial Crash, Inflation, Digitization. globalresearch.ca Omicron, a so-called covid-variant, has never been isolated. Whatever the current narrative — 193 UN member governments tell you in lockstep, what the mainstream media tell you in lockstep — and what the majority in the street of the 193 …
(2021-12-22). Welsh fined for trips to work but not for pub crawls. rt.com 
Workers in Wales now face fines for unnecessary trips to their jobs but can freely enjoy pub crawls and social life, according to controversial new legislation aimed at curbing the spread of the Covid-19 Omicron variant. | "No person may leave the place where they are living, or remain away from that place, for the purposes of work or to provide voluntary or charitable services," reads the recently amended guidance. | The new "work from home" rules apply to the non-essential workers who can work from home "where practicable" and, according to First Minister Mark Drakeford, are designed "to help control" Omicro…
(2021-12-22). Saturday 12/25: Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Meals Served for Free w/ GLIDE SF. indybay.org GLIDE Memorial Church, 330 Ellis St., San Francisco, CA 94102 and throughout sites | in San Francisco | Please wear a mask. Follow COVID safety guidelines: www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/……
(2021-12-22). Tuesday 12/21: Winter Solstice Treaty Action: Street Mural Protest Against Toxic Fossil Fuels at Chevron. indybay.org RICHMOND: Castro St, at Chevron Gate 14–major entrance, a block North of Hwy 580 (other side of Hwy from Point Richmond). LINK TO MAP: goo.gl/maps/DRtrKMpNwQXyRy3Y6 | Please wear a mask. Follow all COVID safety guidelines: www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/……
(2021-12-22). Fifth COVID-19 vaccine authorized in Europe as Omicron continues to surge. ecns.cn The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has added a fifth vaccine to its anti-COVID arsenal as the Omicron variant continued to spread across Europe.
(2021-12-22). Australia Outlines New Measures to Avoid Lockdowns Amid Spread of Omicron Variant. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday outlined the new measures to avoid new lockdowns while containing the spread of Omicron variant, including mask-wearing, pay raise to vaccination staff, relaunching additional vaccination hubs and setting the interval in the booster administration programme.
(2021-12-22). Mayo Clinic expert discusses the latest on omicron variant. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org The omicron variant has now been identified in at least 32 states, and experts believe it will become the dominant strain in the U.S. The omicron variant appears to be more transmissible than other variants, including delta, but has so far led to milder disease. The Mayo Clinic News Network Team sat down with Dr. Abinash Virk, an infectious diseases physician to answer some of the team's questions about the omicron variant: Watch: Dr. Abinash…
(2021-12-22). Omicron and the Black Seers. indybay.org Hope is not in season at the moment. The doomsayers determine the program and the policy. And unfortunately, the "Festival of Hope" just around the corner won't change that.
(2021-12-22). Headlines for December 22, 2021. democracynow.org Biden Announces New Measures, Defends Vaccine Mandates, Amid Omicron Surge, TX Man Is 1st Omicron-Linked U.S. Death; States Announce Incentives, New Rules to Fight Surge, Rep. Barbara Lee, Govs. Hogan and Walz Announce Breakthrough COVID Infections, U.S. Military to Announce Highly Effective COVID Vaccine, Israel Rolling Out 4th Dose of COVID Vaccine; France Expected to Reach 100,000 New Cases Per Day, Oxfam Files Complaint Against Moderna; EU Approves Novavax COVID Vaccine, Biden Says There Is Still Hope for Build Back Better as Mining Union Urges Manchin to Support Bill, Kellogg's Workers End 11-Week Strike Aft…
(2021-12-22). Friday 12/24: Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Meals Served for Free w/ GLIDE. indybay.org GLIDE Memorial Church, 330 Ellis St., San Francisco, CA 94102 and throughout sites in San Francisco | Please wear a mask. Follow COVID safety guidelines: www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/……
(2021-12-22). Up to 15 Percent of New COVID-19 Cases in Netherlands Attributed to Omicron Strain. sputniknews.com PARIS (Sputnik) – Between 10-15 percent of new positive COVID-19 cases in the Netherlands are attributed to the Omicron variant, the chairman of the country's outbreak management team, Jaap van Dissel, said.
(2021-12-22). Six more Philadelphia schools switch to virtual learning as Omicron spreads. wsws.org More schools are forced to close in Philadelphia as virus continues to rage across the city.
(2021-12-22). Finland to Reestablish Border Control With Other EU Nations From 28 December Amid Omicron Surge. sputniknews.com HELSINKI (Sputnik) – Finland will reestablish border controls with other EU countries and will require travellers arriving from the European Union to have a negative COVID-19 PCR test result from 28 December, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin told reporters.
(2021-12-22). Top Pfizer, Moderna shareholders get richer quickly, make $10 billion the week after Omicron hits. globalresearch.ca The top eight Pfizer and Moderna shareholders saw their combined wealth rise by $10 billion in a seven-day windfall after the Omicron variant was discovered, according to a report in the
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(2021-12-22). The Curious Covid Case of Aaron Rodgers: an "Incomplete Pass?" dissidentvoice.org The contradictions and mixed-messaging around the COVID-19 "pandemic" continue to accumulate and swirl as the "Global Health Emergency" approaches its second anniversary. For example: Just as the Phase-3 trials of the Pfizer "Vax" have come under scrutiny for alleged shoddy methodology by its sub-contractor Ventavia in Texas, the partially Big Pharma-funded FDA has unanimously approved …
(2021-12-22). Bombshell: CDC No Longer Recognizes the PCR Test As a Valid Method for Detecting "Confirmed Covid-19 Cases" globalresearch.ca …
(2021-12-22). COVID-19 booster vaccine for teens. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org This past week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) authorized Pfizer COVID-19 booster vaccinations for 16 and 17-year-olds who are six months past their initial vaccination series. COVID-19 booster vaccinations for 16 and 17-year-olds will roll out at most Mayo Clinic locations beginning Tuesday, Dec. 14. Unlike previous changes in COVID-19 vaccination eligibility, boosters for this age group were authorized directly by the FDA and CDC without…
(2021-12-22). Mayo Clinic Healthcare expert offers tips for holiday feasting without the heartburn. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org LONDON — Special foods are among the pleasures of holiday celebrations. On the negative side, for people with digestive diseases or those who overindulge, holiday feasting can quickly produce the food version of a hangover. James East, M.D., a gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic Healthcare in London, explains why this sometimes happens and how we can enjoy the menu while also making holidays happy for our digestive systems. Why indigestion and heartburn happen Indigestion, or an…
(2021-12-22). Saudi-led coalition siege on Yemen took another life. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 22 (MNA) — On Tuesday morning, Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh broke the news that the Iranian ambassador to Yemen, Hassan Irlou, has passed away due to severe coronavirus disease.
(2021-12-22). Military medics tout new vaccine to end Covid-19 pandemic. rt.com 
A candidate vaccine that uses a novel platform and may be good enough to deal with existing and emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2 viruses, will reportedly be announced soon by researchers at the Walter Reed Army Institute in the US. | The unveiling may come "within weeks," according to Dr. Kayvon Modjarrad, director of Walter Reed's infectious diseases branch, who was
(2021-12-22). Mayo Clinic Minute: Strategies for safe holiday travel. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Mayo Clinic recommend delaying travel until you and your family are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are traveling, Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse, a pediatric infectious diseases physician with Mayo Clinic Children's Center, says it's important to have strategies to help mitigate your risks. Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute. youtu.be/Zdkpo1DuL60 Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (0: 59) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News…
(2021-12-22). Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: Find direction to disease prevention using a compass of habits. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org While we know that health affects longevity and quality of life, it can be difficult to change bad habits. People often try to make sweeping New Year's resolutions, only to fail. Dr. Stephen Kopecky, a Mayo Clinic preventive cardiologist, says a better approach is to focus on small steps that add up over time. "The answer, I think, is to make small sustainable steps that you can live with," says Dr. Kopecky "And when I…
(2021-12-22). Science Saturday: Transforming the practice of opioid prescribing — for kids. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org For children, the opioid epidemic can be about adults in their lives with opioid use disorder or accidental overdoses when a child finds their parent's pill bottle. But kids can also get addicted to opioids. Mayo Clinic's Courtney Baker, M.D., an orthopedic surgical resident, and his mentor, Todd Milbrandt, M.D., a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, decided to lessen the chances of these happenings. Together with other colleagues from Orthopedic Surgery and the Mayo Clinic Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern…
(2021-12-22). Australian medical experts speak out against the scrapping of pandemic safety measures. wsws.org "A policy of deliberately expecting to infect children and other vulnerable people is counter to any known or accepted public health practice."
(2021-12-22). As vaccinations lag behind, COVID-19 cases exceed 9.2 million in Africa. peoplesdispatch.org 
To understand the systemic issues hampering Africa's efforts against the pandemic, Peoples Dispatch interviewed Dr. Ahmed Kalebi, president of the East African Division of International Academy of Pathology (IAP), and members of the People's Health Movement, Prof. Leslie London and senior lecturer Lauren Paremoer from the University of Cape Town…
(2021-12-22). 32,649 Deaths 3,003,296 Injuries Following COVID Shots in European Database of Adverse Reactions as Young, Previously Healthy People Continue to Suffer. globalresearch.ca The European (EEA and non-EEA countries) database of suspected drug reaction reports is This database maintained at EudraVigilance is …
(2021-12-22). Mayo Clinic Minute: Winter, holidays and keeping safe from COVID-19 and other viruses. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org As the end of the year approaches, it's only the beginning of the season for illnesses like the cold and flu. Add COVID-19 and other viruses to the list, and that can damper plans or even make gatherings dangerous. So, what can you do to keep safe? Dr. Tina Ardon, a Mayo Clinic family medicine physician, explains the steps you can take now to boost your health later. Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute youtu.be/HepW1PC8jvY Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (0: 59)…
(2021-12-22). Sharing Mayo Clinic: Robert Kass finds voice again after long COVID-19 battle, tracheal resection. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Robert Kass is a self-proclaimed adrenaline junkie. The 69-year-old is an avid rock climber, SCUBA diver and four-decade veteran softball player who once spent weeks sailing across the Pacific Ocean in a two-man vessel. Kass invested in his health through diet and exercise, and says he never had a serious illness in his life. Then, in January 2021, he contracted COVID-19. "I came home from work with a 102-degree fever," says Kass. "Within days, I…
(2021-12-22). Mayo Clinic stands with other health care organizations to urge public to help curb COVID-19. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org ROCHESTER, Minn. — CEOs from nine Minnesota health systems have come together in an appeal to the public, asking them to help our state's overwhelmed health care system. As COVID-19 continues to surge, leaders have taken out a full-page ad in major newspapers across the state this week that highlight the critical nature of the situation, the heartbreaking realities facing hospitals and how the community can help. Almost two years into this pandemic, Minnesota health…
(2021-12-22). Consumer Health: Understanding the flu and why you need to get a flu shot. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org National Influenza Vaccination Week will be observed Dec. 5—11, which makes this a good time to learn more about the flu and why you need to get a flu shot. What many people call the flu is actually viral gastroenteritis, or stomach flu, which is characterized by diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal cramps and pain. Influenza is the true flu. It's a viral infection that attacks your respiratory system, including your nose, throat and lungs. At first, flu…
(2021-12-22). Mayo Clinic Minute: Healthy winter foods. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Summer vegetables gardens have been long put to bed, and winter fruits and vegetables are now on the menu. Elizabeth J. Bailey, a Mayo Clinic registered dietitian nutritionist, says that traditional winter vegetables can be satisfying and healthy. Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute youtu.be/LOWujA2zjrI Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (0: 59) is in the downloads at the end of…
(2021-12-22). Mental health and the holidays: Stress for kids. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org Q: We tend to believe that the holidays are a magical time for children and that the stress of it all is only felt by the adults. However, given the heightened emotions from the past 18 months of a pandemic, our kids are under stress, as well. What are the signs to look for, and how can we help them? A: Even without a pandemic, holiday events can be stressful for children. Family members who…
(2021-12-22). France extends Covid vaccination to children aged 5-11. rt.com 
French Health Minister Olivier Veran has announced that the Covid vaccination campaign for children aged 5-11 is now open, proceeding with a plan announced last week to help protect youngsters from the threat of new variants. | The country's National Authority for Health (HAS) backed opening up the country's Covid vaccination scheme to young children on Monday, stating that it should be done "as soon as the pediatric formulation" of Pfizer's Covid vaccine is ready. | In France, officials were already administering the Covid vaccine to children who are "at risk" of contracting a severe form of the virus but the…
(2021-12-22). Why SARS-CoV-2 mutations come and go, and physicians' advice remains the same: Please vaccinate. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic experts say, regardless of the variant, prevention of infection works. The vaccines reduce and prevent hospitalization and death based on current knowledge. If a person can get vaccinated or is eligible for a booster, do it now. But what about these variants? Why do they show up, and how? Here is what Mayo Clinic experts are saying: Two years ago, on Dec. 12, a group of people were infected and…