2021-12-28: News Headlines

Staff (2021-12-28). Headlines for December 28, 2021. democracynow.org World Coronavirus Cases Hit Record High as Omicron Surges, Israel Tests Fourth Vaccine Doses as COVID Surges in Largely Unvaccinated African Nations, Biden Warns Governors of Looming Shortages of Hospital Beds as COVID-19 Cases Near Pandemic Highs, CDC Recommends Shorter Isolation for People with Asymptomatic Coronavirus Infections, Afghan Taliban Bans Women from Road Trips Without Male Escort, Talks on Reviving Iran Nuclear Deal Resume in Vienna, Iraq's Top Court Ratifies Results of October's Contested Election, Russia to Hold Talks with U.S. and NATO Allies over Ukraine Border Tensions, New German Government Mo…

Moderator (2021-12-28). The Pentagon Just Got $778 Billion, But USAID Is Running Out of Money for COVID-19 Vaccines? scheerpost.com By Brett Wilkins / Common Dreams Sharply contrasting with the $778 billion in new military spending authorized Monday by President Joe Biden, the U.S. Agency for International Development reportedly can't find the funds to pay for the Biden administration's effort to help vaccinate the world's population against COVID-19, according to two agency officials interviewed by Politico. In an article published Monday …

WSWS (2021-12-28). COVID-19 danger persists in Japan as Omicron variant takes hold. wsws.org The government's response to the latest COVID-19 dangers in contrast to public sentiment demonstrates the need for an international strategy to end the pandemic.

WSWS (2021-12-28). Florida sees alarming growth of COVID-19 infections fueled by Omicron variant. wsws.org New cases jumped nearly 333 percent as more than 125,000 cases were reported last week compared to just 28,841 cases the week prior.

WSWS (2021-12-28). Making a killing: Pfizer's domination of the market for COVID jabs. wsws.org Blocking the transfer of vaccine technology, together with the practice of selling to the highest bidder, creating grotesque levels of vaccine inequality, have been critical factors in enabling the conditions for the Omicron variant to emerge.

WSWS (2021-12-28). UK Johnson government takes no new measures against pandemic. wsws.org The decision was a fait accompli. Johnson is under instruction from his party's most fascistic wing in the COVID Recovery Group to ignore all warnings that the Omicron variant of the virus is surging out of control, infecting millions and rapidly overwhelming the National Health Service.

WSWS (2021-12-28). Omicron surge intensifies crisis in Washington state public schools. wsws.org The rapid spread of the Omicron variant in Washington state is deepening the crisis in public education and threatening to provoke an independent movement of educators and parents to close schools in order to prevent further COVID-19 infections.

Global Research News (2021-12-28). Selected Articles: Video: "Imagine All the People": The COVID-19 Omicron Christmas and New Year Lockdown. globalresearch.ca By We are told by our governments that It's Christmas under Lockdown. To protect you and your loved ones against …

WSWS (2021-12-28). "Opposition to the herd immunity policy is overwhelming": European Network of Rank-and-File Committees for Safe Education meeting outlines strategy to end pandemic. wsws.org Amid the exponential spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus across Europe, an online meeting of the Network of Rank-and-File Committees for Safe Education expressed the immense opposition and willingness to fight against the criminal herd immunity policies of governments everywhere.

WSWS (2021-12-28). CDC surrenders US population to the spread of Omicron. wsws.org The US health agency is effectively ending any effort to stop the spread of COVID, in order to meet business demands for workers.

WSWS (2021-12-28). Thousands of flights canceled worldwide due to rising infections among airline workers. wsws.org The airlines lobbied the CDC to change its guidelines so airline workers could be forced to work even if they are infected or exposed.

Kester Kenn Klomegah (2021-12-28). China Cooperating With Africa's Health Sector. moderndiplomacy.eu China and Africa will always be a community of a shared future. At least, its policy is directed at addressing sustainable development, and China has in deed proved, over the years, in many aspect of dealing with Africa. Results are seen especially with all kinds of infrastructure that have been built these years. And, of …

WSWS (2021-12-28). Australian governments let loose soaring COVID-19 infections. wsws.org There is shock and outrage among health workers, medical experts and working-class people as governments wash their hands of the developing disaster.

teleSUR (2021-12-28). Saint Vincent & The Grenadines To Use Cuba's Abdala Vaccine. telesurenglish.net On Monday, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines (SVG) became the first country in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to authorize the use of Abdala, a COVID-19 vaccine made in Cuba. | RELATED: | Previously, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves announced that Cuba had donated 300 Abdala doses to his country, which would be used immediately on teachers and other workers who are on the front lines of the fight against the pandemic. | "God and the Cuba…

Ethan Huff (2021-12-28). Covid vaccines "most dangerous biological medicinal product rollout in human history," says Dr. Peter McCullough. globalresearch.ca At a recent online symposium on covid science that was organized by Doctors for COVID Ethics, the most This international group, which has long opposed the …

Medea Benjamin (2021-12-28). Yes, There Were 10 Good Things About 2021. dissidentvoice.org Photo credit: peace-justice.org This year, 2021, began with a huge sense of relief as Trump left office. We hoped to emerge from the ravages of COVID, pass a hefty Build Back Better (BBB) bill, and make significant cuts to the Pentagon budget. But, alas, we faced a January 6 white nationalist insurrection, two new COVID …

WSWS (2021-12-28). For a "Zero COVID" policy in Canada's schools!—an appeal from a special-needs educator. wsws.org To oppose the disastrous profit-before-lives pandemic policy pursued by Canada's governments, I urge my colleagues to join with the Cross-Canada Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee in organizing independent rank-and-file committees in all schools to fight for a science-based Zero COVID strategy.

WSWS (2021-12-28). French parent calls for rank-and-file committee to fight state COVID-19 policy. wsws.org Raphaà´lle, a mother of two, called to support Lisa Diaz's struggle in the UK against sending children into schools where they risk being infected by the coronavirus.

WSWS (2021-12-28). French parents call for rank-and-file committee to fight state COVID-19 policy. wsws.org Raphaà´lle, a mother of two, called to support Lisa Diaz's struggle in the UK against sending children into schools where they risk being infected by the coronavirus.

WSWS (2021-12-28). More workers died of COVID-19 at one Michigan auto plant than all of China in 2021. wsws.org Xavier Anderson, a worker at Stellantis' Sterling Stamping Plant north of Detroit, is the fifth to die from COVID-19 at the plant.

Lord Sumption (2021-12-28). Video: Government by Decree — COVID-19 and the Constitution. Lord Jonathan Sumption. globalresearch.ca First published on October 29, 2020 | On 27 October 2020 Lord Sumption delivered the 2020 Cambridge Freshfields Lecture entitled "Government by decree — Covid-19 and the Constitution". | The disputes over Brexit last year saw an attempt to make the executive, …

teleSUR, SH (2021-12-27). Cancelan casi 8.000 vuelos esta semana por la variante ómicron. telesurtv.net Numerosas compañías aéreas debieron poner en cuarentena a sus tripulaciones que se vieron expuestos a la Covid-19 en la última semana.

teleSUR (2021-12-27). Flight Cancellations Continue Amid Omicron Advance. telesurenglish.net A total of 1,033 Monday flights within, into and out of the United States were canceled and 2,982 faced delays as of 1: 20 p.m. East Time, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware, as the recent Omicron-fueled COVID-19 surge has resulted in crew shortages and disrupted the operations of some airlines. | RELATED: | The cancellations on Monday included 264 by SkyWest, 141 by Alaska Airlines, 93 by United an…

teleSUR (2021-12-27). Venezuela: 87% Of Vaccinated Against COVID-19. telesurenglish.net Regarding the omicron variant, he indicated that this Monday, two other new cases were detected in people coming from flights coming from the United Kingdom and Panama, both asymptomatic. | RELATED: | He pointed out that while Spain, for example, registers 1,200 cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 inhabitants, in Venezuela, 6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants are reported "thanks to the fact that we take care of ourselves collectively, thanks to…

Staff (2021-12-27). Headlines for December 27, 2021. democracynow.org U.S. Coronavirus Cases Skyrocket as Omicron Spreads at Unprecedented Pace, China Orders Lockdown for 13 Million in Xi'an; Pope Francis Calls for Universal Access to Vaccines, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Who Battled Apartheid and Championed Human Rights, Dies at 90, Israel Plans to Double Population of Illegal Settlements in Occupied Golan Heights, Burmese Military Accused of Massacring Dozens of Civilians , Iraqi Kurds Hold Funerals for Family Members Who Drowned Crossing English Channel , Dams Burst After Torrential Rains in Brazil; U.S. Records Record High December Temperatures, Sarah Weddington, Who Successfully…

Jan6 Unity Day Coalition (2021-12-27). Thursday 1/6: Walnut Creek: Jan. 6th Day of Remembrance & Action for Democracy Vigil Rally. indybay.org WALNUT CREEK: Downtown Walnut Creek – exact location TBD. RSVP below for text/email | location update. | Please wear a mask and be vaccinated/boosted. Follow all COVID safety guidelines, especially w/ omicron variant: www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/…

Jan6 Unity Day Coalition (2021-12-27). Thursday 1/6: Napa: Jan. 6th Day of Remembrance & Action Vigil to Defend Democracy. indybay.org Veterans Memorial Park, Main Street and 3rd Street, Napa, CA 94559 | Please wear a mask and be vaccinated/boosted. Follow all COVID safety guidelines, especially w/ omicron variant: www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/…

TASS (2021-12-27). Anti-coronavirus Avifavir drug is effective against delta, omicron strains — developer. tass.com A meta-analysis of 23 clinical trials of favipiravir in the treatment of coronavirus shows a 47% improvement in the condition of patients when used at an early stage of the disease, the developer noted…

F. Douglas Stephenson (2021-12-27). Purdue Pharma/ Sackler Family Fails in End Run around Justice. zcomm.org In a seismic victory for justice and accountability, the Sackler family will be forced to confront the pain and devastation they have allegedly caused…

Prof Michel Chossudovsky (2021-12-27). Bombshell: CDC No Longer Recognizes the PCR Test As a Valid Method for Detecting "Confirmed Covid-19 Cases" globalresearch.ca Smoking Gun: The CDC Says that the PCR Test is Invalid. Does not differentiate between Covid-19 and Seasonal Influenza. Does not detect or identify SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. If the PCR test is invalid the 260 Million "Confirmed Covid-19 Cases" collected Worldwide are meaningless. There is no Pandemic.

WSWS (2021-12-27). The FDA grants emergency use authorization to Pfizer and Merck's anti-COVID pills. wsws.org The two pills are the first for treating patients at early stages of a COVID infection of mild or medium severity. The CDC is expected to endorse the FDA recommendations.

Prof Michel Chossudovsky (2021-12-27). Bombshell: CDC No Longer Recognizes the PCR Test As a Valid Method for Detecting "Confirmed Covid-19 Cases"? globalresearch.ca Smoking Gun: The CDC Says that the PCR Test is Invalid. Does not differentiate between Covid-19 and Seasonal Influenza. Does not detect or identify SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. If the PCR test is invalid the 260 Million "Confirmed Covid-19 Cases" collected Worldwide are meaningless. There is no Pandemic.

_____ (2021-12-27). Media Forget Afghan Plight As US Sanctions Drive Mass Famine Risk. popularresistance.org As the United States withdrew militarily from Afghanistan in August, US TV news interest in the plight of the country's citizens spiked, often focusing on "the horror awaiting women and girls" (CNN Situation Room, 8/16/21) to argue against withdrawal (FAIR.org, 8/23/21). | Four months later, as those same citizens have been plunged into a humanitarian crisis due in no small part to US sanctions, where is the outrage? | Experts warned of an impending humanitarian crisis in the wake of the US withdrawal (IRC, 8/20/21). In recent months, the messages have become more urgent. A UN report (10/25/21) warned that "combi…

It's Going Down (2021-12-27). Organization, Repression, Burnout, Action: A Discussion with CrimethInc. itsgoingdown.org photo: Pixabay In this latest episode of the It's Going Down podcast, we are joined with a participant of the CrimethInc. collective as we spend several hours broadly discussing contemporary anarchist history and organization, the impact of both material conditions and repression on those organizational forms, how we can build and maintain healthy group dynamics,…

Kiah Collier, Maya Miller (2021-12-27). A plant that sterilizes medical equipment spews cancer-causing pollution on tens of thousands of schoolchildren. nationofchange.org Beal, of the EPA, said that the Biden administration has "reinvigorated its commitment to protect public health from toxic air emissions from industrial facilities." And she said ethylene oxide in particular is a major priority.

Staff (2021-12-27). Study reveals how Covid affects the brain. rt.com The SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19 can within days move from the respiratory system into the brain, heart, and nearly every organ system in the body, and stay there for months, a new study says. | A team from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) described their research as the "most comprehensive analysis" to date of how the virus spreads through the human body. The results were published online on Saturday in a manuscript, which was submitted under review in the Nature journal. | The scientists based their findings on autopsies of 44 patients who died after contracting Covid. The autopsies were p…

Dr. Maulana Karenga (2021-12-27). 2021 Kwanzaa in the Midst of Pandemic. indybay.org Final preparation for our California State Capitol, Matunda Ya Kwanza, Celebration is filled with struggle. We continue to shine the spotlight on the principles and practice of our "California Grown" Global Holiday, with words of the creator of the Nguzo Saba. Essential basic principles for our journey to restore Black Agriculture as the foundation of our culture with healthy solutions in the midst of pandemic.

teleSUR (2021-12-27). Italy: Economic Paralysis Due to Quarantine Measures. telesurenglish.net On Monday, health experts asked the Italian government to reduce the severity of COVID-19 quarantine measures to avoid economic paralysis. | RELATED: | According to the rules, people who have been in contact with infected ones have to self-isolate for seven days if they are vaccinated already; if not, they must spend ten days in self-isolation. | The head of the Gimbe health foundation, Nino Cartabellotta, explained that every p…

Rosalind English (2021-12-27). Enforced quarantine in hotels: a breach of the right to liberty? ukhumanrightsblog.com Hotta and others, R(on the application of) v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and another [2021] EWHC 3359 (Admin) This was an application for permission to challenge to the Managed Hotel Quarantine (MHQ) scheme. MHQ was put into place under Schedule 11 to the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel and Operator Liability) …

US Department of Justice (2021-12-27). Pfizer Inc. "Fraudulent Marketing": "Largest Health Care Fraud Settlement in Its History" (2009). US Department of Justice. globalresearch.ca First posted on Global Research on July 19, 2021 | . | Introductory …

Staff (2021-12-27). Anti-vaxx kickboxing king dies from Covid complications after discharging himself from hospital. rt.com An anti-vaccine former kickboxing champion died from Covid complications at the age of 41 shortly after discharging himself from hospital, according to reports. | Frederic Sinistra passed away at his home in the town of Ciney, southern Belgium, after deciding he would personally treat what he described as a "little virus". | Forced to finally get medical help in November by his coach,

NorCal MLK, SF Public Library,, partners (2021-12-27). Monday 1/17: MLK22 Black & Brown Comix Arts Festival Expo Showcase. indybay.org Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 701 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA. 94103 | REQUIRED: Wear a mask. Proof of COVID vaccine status required for ages 12+ in order to enter.

teleSUR (2021-12-27). Bolsonaro Won't Vaccinate 11-Year-old Daughter Against COVID-19. telesurenglish.net "I hope there is no interference from the Judiciary (to force the vaccination) because my daughter will not be vaccinated, (I want to) make it very clear, she is 11 years old", said the president in statements to the press, according to the local newspaper O Globo. | RELATED: | The president added that there are "many doubts" about vaccines for children in the world, even though several countries have already started vaccinating this age group.

sputniknews (2021-12-27). Israel is Set to Offer 4th Dose of Pfizer Vaccine; Expert Says It Should Not Be Mandatory. sputniknews.com The decision to start mass vaccination yet again hasn't been taken yet, but the Jewish state is already encouraging its medical staff, people above 60 and those at risk to get the jab.

_____ (2021-12-27). Improvements For NYC's Delivery Workers' Safety And Working Conditions To Start In January. popularresistance.org Above Photo: Choongky / Shutterstock. This holiday weekend, as many New Yorkers once again hunker down at home during the latest surge of Covid cases, the city's intense reliance on delivery apps for essential goods is highlighting advocates' call for better protections for the delivery workers who have toiled without a safety net. A slate of city …

Ibrahim Tanner (2021-12-27). A Crime Covered In Color: Freedman's Savings And Trust Bank Plunder In The 21st Century. moguldom.com Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen announced at the Freedman's Bank Forum a plan to loan $9 billion of the previously secured $12 billion to underserved communities and those whose small businesses have been disproportionately damaged during the covid pandemic. Harris started the panel discussion by honoring Viola Fletcher and …

imperial.ac.uk (2021-12-27). The ten most popular Imperial news stories of 2021. imperial.ac.uk Well into the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic Imperial research continues to save lives and generate headlines around the world.

_____ (2021-12-27). Will 2022 be Better Than the Outgoing Year? journal-neo.org As 2021 is approaching its end, efforts are being made to assess it and gain insight into what the New Year, 2022, holds in store for us. In 2021, the world has still been reeling under the consequences of COVID-19 pandemic, but it has turned out to be more hectic: the old conflicts have flared …

Byul Ryan-Im (2021-12-27). The Weekly Round-Up: New COVID-19 rules for three nations and no investigation into Met on Downing Street Christmas party. ukhumanrightsblog.com In the news: From 26 December new Covid rules came into effect in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. All three nations have limited the size of public events and face coverings are compulsory in most indoor public spaces. Covid passports or proof of a negative test result is required at many venues. Nightclubs will close in Wales and Scotland from 27 December and in …

teleSUR (2021-12-27). US: Medical Personnel Mobilized to Help Hospitals. telesurenglish.net On Monday, the U.S president said on a call with the National Governors Association, that Washington would call on medical personnel to help prevent the congestion in hospitals with coronavirus infections by unvaccinated individuals. | RELATED: | "With rising cases, we still have tens of millions of unvaccinated people, and we're seeing hospitalizations rise. It means our hospitals in some places are going to get o…

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