Daily Archives: December 7, 2021

2021-12-07: News Headlines

_____ (2021-12-07). New Study Finds The US Military Is Spreading Disease Around The World. popularresistance.org A new study out of York University in Toronto, Canada finds that the US military plays a large role in the spread of diseases globally, including past and present pandemics. Clearing the FOG speaks with one of the lead authors, K J Noh, an expert analyst on the geopolitics of the Asian-Pacific region and health, about the study. Important factors in the spread of disease are Status Agreements that the US military makes with local and national governments that exempt members of the military from being required to follow public health measures and a culture of impunity within the military that leads to members defy…

_____ (2021-12-07). US Empire Seizes UK's National Health Service. popularresistance.org One of the recent roles of the Parliamentary Healthcare Committee has been to reassure the British public that any claims regarding the 'Americanization' of the National Health Service (NHS) were wildly overstated, "creating a climate that risks blocking the joining up of services in the interests of patients." | In fact, the penetration of the healthcare system by the giant U.S. insurer UnitedHealth reveals the opposite to be true, with the full extent of its influence capable of surprising even seasoned NHS watchers. | The Health and Care Bill making its way through official channels simply reinforces this, wit…

Editor (2021-12-07). Vaccine imperialism: a global threat. mronline.org Leaving a vast section of the world's population unvaccinated can only create the basis for the virus to spread and mutate, argues John Clarke…

WSWS (2021-12-07). Labor Party enforcing Australian ruling elite's criminal response to Omicron variant. wsws.org Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews declared: "We will not be pursuing an Omicron zero here… It might already be here."

WSWS (2021-12-07). Medical authorities warn of disaster as Omicron variant found in India. wsws.org Indian national and state authorities are indicating they will take no new action to halt the spread of a more vaccine-resistant variant of the virus that has devastated the country.

Staff (2021-12-07). As World Confronts Omicron Variant, Top 8 Pfizer & Moderna Investors Make $10 Billion in a Week. democracynow.org The eight top Pfizer and Moderna shareholders made over $10 billion last week when their stock holdings skyrocketed after the discovery of the new Omicron variant. This comes as global public health advocates warn the world will keep seeing more coronavirus variants unless wealthy nations and vaccine manufacturers do more to address vaccine inequity. "The companies that make the most are doing the least to share their technology," says Nick Dearden, director of Global Justice Now U.K., which is documenting Big Pharma's profits. "The priority is making enormous amounts of money for some of the richest people in th…

The Canary (2021-12-07). Omicron cases in UK expected to exceed those in red list nations, scientist says. thecanary.co Cases of the Omicron variant in the UK are soon expected to be higher than in some African countries placed on the travel red list, a scientist has warned. | Omicron: | Professor Tim Spector said early data suggests cases of the coronavirus mutation are doubling every two days, putting it on course to overtake some of the 11 countries from where travellers to the UK are now required to quarantine to try to stymie community transmission. New rules came into force in the early hours of 7 December, requiring all travellers to take a pre-departure test before heading to England. They will not be able to tr…

Walker Bragman (2021-12-07). Where Is Biden In The Global War On Omicron?>. dailyposter.com

WSWS (2021-12-07). Delta spreads as New Zealand government ends Auckland lockdown. wsws.org The Ardern government has lifted Auckland's lockdown, despite the presence of 6,000 cases of COVID-19 and the threat posed by the more infectious Omicron variant internationally.

WSWS (2021-12-07). Europe passes 75 million COVID cases, as Omicron variant found in at least 17 countries across the continent. wsws.org According to a Reuters analysis, in 2021 "Europe has reported highest daily average of 359,000 new cases in second half as compared with highest daily cases of about 241,000 a day in the first half of the year."

WSWS (2021-12-07). The Omicron COVID-19 variant and the reckless endangerment of children. wsws.org Despite the deepening wave of infections, hospitalizations and deaths among children, which Omicron threatens to intensify, the entire political establishment, corporate media and the teachers unions insist that schools must stay open.

teleSUR (2021-12-07). Tougher COVID-19 Testing Rules Take Effect For US Entry. telesurenglish.net As the Omicron variant was found in more U.S. states, tighter rules for entry into the country for international travelers went into effect on Monday — all incoming travelers will need to show proof of a negative test taken within a day of their departure, regardless of vaccination status. | RELATED: | The time span for all international air travelers to take a pre-departure coronavirus test is shortened from three days to one…

Binoy Kampmark (2021-12-07). Punishing the Unvaccinated: Europe's COVID-19 Health Experiment. dissidentvoice.org Forget any notions of juicy carrots; the stick approach of savage punishment is in vogue with the Greek government in pushing vaccination rates. It is far from the only one. Across a number of countries in Europe, governments wishing to drive up levels of COVID-19 vaccination have decided to abandon suasion and the generous supply …

Joe Piette (2021-12-07). Philadelphia rally defends abortion justice. workers.org On Dec. 1 as the U.S. Supreme Court was hearing arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization — the most consequential abortion rights case since the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973 — women, other gender-oppressed people and allies rallied at Temple University in Philadelphia. Philadelphia, Dec. 1. WW . . . |

Staff (2021-12-07). Headlines for December 7, 2021. democracynow.org Justice Department Sues Texas Over Political Maps That Diminish Power of Voters of Color, New York City Announces First-in-Nation Vaccine Mandate For Private Employers, Biden Meets Putin as Russian Troops Mass on Ukraine Border, Russia and India Agree to Deepen Military Ties, Haitian Kidnappers Release 3 More Missionaries, 12 Remain Hostages, Civil Rights Office's Warnings Over Haiti Deportations Went Ignored by DHS and ICE , Biden Administration Reinstates and Expands Trump-Era "Remain in Mexico" Policy, Trump-era Oil & Gas Drilling Boom Continues Under Biden, Despite Campaign Pledge , Top Mike Pence Aide Will C…

Newsroom (2021-12-07). World Bank Supports Cabo Verde to Build a Sustainable and Equitable Recovery. moderndiplomacy.eu The World Bank approved a $30 million Development Policy Financing Operation on December 6 to support the Government's efforts to strengthen policies for a sustainable, equitable, and greener recovery from the COVID-19 crisis in Cabo Verde. "As Cabo Verde is recovering from the largest economic contraction in history and leveraging the moment to embark in …

Peoples Dispatch (2021-12-07). Trade unions in Turkey call for demonstrations demanding revision in minimum wage. peoplesdispatch.org The Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey has said that the current national minimum wage is not sufficient for workers to meet their basic needs amid rising prices and an economic crisis intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic…

Yasmine Sherif (2021-12-07). Education Must Come First in Cameroon: Yasmine Sherif calls for an end to attacks on schools. moderndiplomacy.eu The future of humanity hangs in the balance. Acute threats of conflict, COVID-19, climate change, poverty, displacement, hunger and other factors are pushing millions more people — with children the most vulnerable and hardest hit — to the edge in humanitarian crises around the world. We can save humanity from these vast interconnected crises, including …

Guest Contributor (2021-12-07). Unorthodox Covid Views and Medical Regulation — Richard Smith. ukhumanrightsblog.com White v General Medical Council [2021] EWHC 3286 (Admin) (03 December 2021) A case in which the High Court reminds the regulator of requirements for imposing curbs on free speech. Dr Samuel White is a GP. Earlier this year he posted a seven minute video on Instagram explaining that he had resigned from his job …

WSWS (2021-12-07). New York attorney general belatedly calls for stricter coronavirus protections at Amazon warehouse. wsws.org The long-overdue demand for the most minimal COVID safety oversight is an effort by the attorney general's office to boost the credibility of Democrat-aligned union organizing efforts at the JFK8 warehouse in Staten Island, New York.

The Canary (2021-12-07). Education watchdog says nearly all children have fallen behind with education during pandemic. thecanary.co Nearly all children in England have fallen behind in their education and suffered as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills ( Chief inspector Amanda Spielman warned that many of the youngest children's progress and development "faltered" amid the pandemic, with some regressing in basic language…

WSWS (2021-12-07). Canadian educators declare support for Global Workers' Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic. wsws.org At a meeting Sunday, educators from Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia also voted for a resolution opposing the persecution of Lisa Diaz, a British mother who is being targeted by the UK government for refusing to send her daughter into COVID-infested schools.

WSWS (2021-12-07). SEP electoral members speak on Workers' Inquest into COVID-19 and Australia's anti-democratic electoral laws. wsws.org "The Coalition, the ALP and the Greens want to consolidate their own power. It's being done from a position of weakness, not strength"

WSWS (2021-12-07). In a criminal disregard for human life, New York transit agency seeks increased ridership. wsws.org Although at least 177 transit workers have died of COVID-19, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority is prioritizing an increase in ridership.

_____ (2021-12-06). In the US, Homicide has Now Become Endemic. journal-neo.org The US homicide rate rose by a record 30% from 2019 to 2020, reports CNN citing a paper from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The number of deaths due to homicide in 2020 was the highest in the modern history of the United States. The Gun Violence Archive (GVA), a research group, estimates …

Owen Fairclough (2021-12-06). U.S. changes traveling rules in attempt to contain Omicron. america.cgtn.com New rules for anyone flying into the U.S took effect this Monday as authorities tried to contain the spread of Omicron.

WSWS (2021-12-06). WHO says that Omicron could become the dominant variant globally. wsws.org At least 38 countries have detected the Omicron variant inside their borders. The current surge of infections in South Africa has shown the new strain is even more transmissible than Delta. However, little is being done to coordinate a global strategy to contain and end the pandemic.

Binoy Kampmark (2021-12-06). Omicron and the Travel Ban Itch. dissidentvoice.org Stick to the script: owe that duty of care to your population, so the legal experts in government tell you. Self-interest pays, if in small amounts. These rigid, formulaic assumptions have done wonders to harm and deter any spirit of cooperation regarding dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. History's record of humanity's response to plagues, pandemics …

WSWS (2021-12-06). Germany: Federal and state governments give the pandemic free rein. wsws.org Despite record infection rates and the spread of the highly contagious Omicron mutation, the policy of "profits before lives" continues, sacrificing tens of thousands more human lives in the interest of the financial markets.

Editor (2021-12-06). Omicron variant exposes danger of global vaccine apartheid. mronline.org A new, heavily mutated Coronavirus variant, Omicron, is causing alarm around the world as scientists race to discover more about this new type of the virus and its potential resistance to vaccines.

Jim Spellman (2021-12-06). U.S. attempts to contain Omicron. america.cgtn.com With the discovery of a new COVID-19 variant, and cases already reported in several states, the U.S. is trying to contain the spread of the virus.

WSWS (2021-12-06). Sri Lankan government eases COVID-19 restrictions ignoring scientists' warnings about Omicron. wsws.org The working class must oppose the murderous policy of the government and the entire ruling class, which has let the coronavirus run rampant, taking the lives of tens of thousands and infecting hundreds of thousands.

Staff (2021-12-06). Headlines for December 6, 2021. democracynow.org International Travelers Face Tightened Restrictions as Omicron Variant Spreads Worldwide, More Protests Erupt as European Countries Tighten Vaccine Mandates, Parents of Michigan High School Shooting Suspect Arrested After Manhunt, Burmese Court Sentences Deposed Leader Aung San Suu Kyi to 4 Years in Prison, Biden Expected to Announce U.S. Diplomatic Boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics, 15 Dead, Dozens Missing as Indonesian Volcano Erupts, Funerals Held for 15 Civilians Killed by Security Forces in India's Nagaland State, Pope Francis Voices Support for Refugees in Trip to Greek Island of Lesbos, Voters in The Gamb…

WSWS (2021-12-06). Striking NSW teachers must fight for school shutdown to stop the spread of Omicron in Australia! wsws.org The cutting edge of the fight for all of the rights of educators is to close the schools for the year so that no more teachers or students are infected with a disease that could claim their lives or leave them with dire medical issues.

Steve Topple (2021-12-06). The government faces pressure over 'harmful' NHS treatments. thecanary.co A new campaign aims to get the government to put mechanisms in place for reporting harms caused by controversial medical treatments. You'd be forgiven for thinking something like this already exists. Except that it doesn't — at least not for non-pharmaceutical treatments like exercise therapy. So, the campaign wants to change things. And the implications of this could be far-reaching — not least for long Covid patients. | The campaign founder's specific area for the government to look at is the disease known as ME. | Years of harm: | For years, myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) patients have rep…

Anonymous Contributor (2021-12-06). Report Back from Disruption of Heartland Alliance's Holiday Brunch. itsgoingdown.org Report back on recent mobilization and disruption of the Heartland Alliance, a non-profit which imprisons migrant children in so-called Chicago. For a deeper dive, go here. On Sunday, December 5 at 10 AM, demonstrators gathered outside the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Chicago to confront donors arriving at Heartland Health's annual holiday brunch. While Heartland…

Matt Sedlar (2021-12-06). CEPR Spotlight: Private Equity in Health Care. cepr.net CEPR co-director Eileen Appelbaum has become a recognized expert on how Private Equity has permeated all sectors of our economy. And nowhere is this practice more insidious than in health care.

teleSUR (2021-12-06). Cuba Kicks off COVID-19 Booster Vaccine Drive in Havana. telesurenglish.net Cuban health authorities on Monday began the massive application of booster vaccine doses against COVID-19 for Havana residents with the home-grown Abdala vaccine. | RELATED: | During the first phase of the campaign, people living in four out of the city's 15 municipalities will be offered booster shots. | According to the Cuban Ministry of Public Health, those who have been infected with the virus or vaccinat…

Irina Imamur Nadia (2021-12-06). Bangladesh's Vaccine Policy: Cooperation beyond Geopolitical Lens. moderndiplomacy.eu Since its outbreak, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented devastation to every nook and corner of the world. Not being just a cataclysmic health crisis, the pandemic is subtly but substantially reshaping social norms, economic systems, diplomacy way-outs, as well as global leadership and rivalry. As of now, experts believe that this deadly virus …

WSWS (2021-12-06). French health care workers denounce government's deadly pandemic policy. wsws.org On December 4, health care workers marched to protest appalling conditions in hospitals and French President Emmanuel Macron's murderous COVID-19 policy.

Emily Janakiram (2021-12-06). Unapologetic Support for Abortion Rights Must Be a Pillar of the Left. truthout.org This week the Supreme Court began hearing oral arguments on Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization — the case that will determine the fate of Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban, and more broadly, the fate of Roe v. Wade. Jackson Women's Health Organization, or the "Pink House," due to its color, is the only abortion clinic left standing in Mississippi. Commentators have widely predicted that the Dobbs decision, which is expected to be announced in June or July, will ultimately overturn R…

teleSUR (2021-12-06). Argentina Approves Russian Single-Dose Vaccine Sputnik Light. telesurenglish.net The Ministry of Health of Argentina approved the Russian single-dose vaccine Sputnik Light as a standalone and booster vaccine against coronavirus, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) announced from Moscow. | According to a statement from the RDIF, the Russian preparation was approved as a "standalone vaccine and booster dose" against the coronavirus. | RELATED: | The Russian fund recalled that Argentina was…

_____ (2021-12-06). Thousands Of Brazilians Shout 'Bolsonaro Never Again!'. popularresistance.org On Saturday, thousands of Brazilians took to the streets to demand the removal of President Jair Bolsonaro, who is being investigated by the Supreme Court for crimes related to the dissemination of fake news about COVID-19 and vaccines. This happened in a country that has counted over 615,000 deaths since the pandemic began. | The mobilizations against the far-righ President were summoned by organizations such as the Brazilian Women Articulation (AMB), the Women's World March (MMM), the Unified Black Movement (MNO), the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST), the Union of Blacks for Equality (UNEGRO), the Workers'

teleSUR (2021-12-06). 'Bolsonaro Never Again!' Thousands of Brazilians Shout Out. telesurenglish.net On Saturday, thousands of Brazilians took to the streets to demand the removal of President Jair Bolsonaro, who is being investigated by the Supreme Court for crimes related to the dissemination of fake news about COVID-19 and vaccines. This happened in a country that has counted over 615,000 deaths since the pandemic began. | RELATED: | The mobilizations against the far-righ President were summoned by organizati…

Global Research News (2021-12-06). Selected Articles: Graphene Hydroxide in the mRNA Vaccine Vial: Assassination of Dr. Andreas Noack. globalresearch.ca By This video by the late Dr. Andreas Noack pertains to graphene hydroxide contained in the Covid vaccine vial. Dr. …

_____ (2021-12-06). Governments Buy More Weapons In First Year Of COVID-19. popularresistance.org In 2020, when the global economy contracted over 3.1% due to the COVID-19 pandemic, global arms trade recorded an increase of 1.3%, as per latest data released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on Monday, December 6. The growth in arms trade, both domestic and international, reveals how governments worldwide chose to maintain or increase their spending on arms despite the economic hardships caused by the pandemic. | According to SIPRI, arms trade by the world's top 100 companies in the sector touched USD 531 billion in 2020, making it the sixth consecutive year of growth since 2015.

Canadian Tire Fire (2021-12-06). Canadian Tire Fire #22: #AllOutForWedzinKwa updates, Migrant Workers Take on Cargill, Brampton Workers Fight Wage Theft. itsgoingdown.org This week we provide updates on the situation on the Wet'suwet'en Yintah as well as on the ongoing #ShutDownCanada solidarity actions across the country. We also cover the Cargill strike in the context of fatal Covid-19 outbreaks linked to the meatpacking plant. Naujawan (youth) Support Network in the Greater Toronto Area continues to successfully put…

imperial.ac.uk (2021-12-06). People from BAME and deprived groups more affected by Covid hospital disruption. imperial.ac.uk People from lower-income areas or from BAME backgrounds were less likely to access non-Covid-related hospital care during the pandemic.

WSWS (2021-12-06). Pennsylvania Educators support call for a Global Workers' Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic. wsws.org Educators from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland and Virginia met last week and unanimously adopted this resolution in support of the call by the WSWS for an inquest into the COVID-19 pandemic.

Muhammad Amin Musa (2021-12-06). Thailand and Kon La Krueng Co-payment Scheme: A Challenge towards Sustainable Consumption. moderndiplomacy.eu The COVID-19 has impacted many people around the world, particularly the poor people who are unable to meet their fundamental needs through self-sufficiency. These hard times of the COVID-19, it has taught us that our world is becoming more complex and that we must be prepared for unexpected events, such as this severe pandemic. From …

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