Daily Archives: December 17, 2021

2021-12-17: News Headlines

Staff (2021-12-17). COVID-19: Los países de bajos ingresos han administrado la mitad de dosis totales que las dosis de refuerzo administradas en las naciones ricas. cubadebate.cu Un año desde que se administraron las primeras vacunas COVID-19, muchas partes del mundo permanecen peligrosamente desprotegidas. La propagación de la variante Omicron del coronavirus ha significado que muchos países están intensificando sus campañas de refuerzo. El aumento ha sido tan rápido que el análisis de Sky News ha encontrado que el número de dosis de refuerzo administradas por persona en los países ricos es el doble del número total de todas las dosis de la vacuna COVID administradas en los países de bajos ingresos.

WSWS (2021-12-17). Volkswagen to cut around 900 temporary jobs in Germany. wsws.org Volkswagen is cutting the positions of around 900 temporary workers in the midst of the current coronavirus wave. VW General Works Council Chairwoman Daniela Cavallo and VW brand board member Ralf Brandstà§tter announced this just four weeks before Christmas in an online workforce meeting.

Ana Maria Garcia Horta (2021-12-17). Black Lives Matter: The Power Of Activism & Citizen Journalism. telesurenglish.net The year 2021 is drawing to a close, leaving untouched American structural racism, a legacy of the slave age that capitalism preserves to ensure the reproduction of social inequalities, which have been exacerbated by a pandemic that continues to hit workers in various ways. | RELATED: | In Minnesota, for example, the rate of coronavirus infection in citizens of African descent has remained between 25 and 30 percent…

imperial.ac.uk (2021-12-17). Modelling suggests rapid spread of Omicron in England but same severity as Delta. imperial.ac.uk Omicron largely evades immunity from past infection or two vaccine doses according to Imperial's latest report.

imperial.ac.uk (2021-12-17). Boosters vital to mitigate impact of Omicron, but may lose some effectiveness. imperial.ac.uk Levels of neutralizing antibody to prevent Omicron infection reduced and vaccine efficacy against severe disease predicted to drop says new report.

WSWS (2021-12-17). COVID-19 infections in France explode to over 60,000 per day. wsws.org As the vaccine-resistant Omicron variant spreads across Europe, daily new cases in France are exploding, rising from 5,940 cases to over 60,000 in just one month.

Newsroom (2021-12-17). Indonesia's Economy Grew in 2021 Despite COVID-19, Will Accelerate in 2022. moderndiplomacy.eu The Indonesian economy continued to recover in 2021 despite moderating due to the COVID-19 Delta variant wave mid-year. The economy is estimated to have expanded 3.7 percent this year and is forecast to accelerate to 5.2 percent in 2022, the World Bank said on Thursday. The projection assumes that Indonesia will avoid another severe COVID-19 …

WSWS (2021-12-17). Omicron case identified in New Zealand. wsws.org The Labour Party-led government claims that it is "very well-prepared" to keep Omicron out of New Zealand, when in reality it has ditched its elimination strategy and is allowing the Delta variant to spread nationwide.

Princess Harmony (2021-12-17). NYC opens first safe consumption sites. workers.org With fatal and nonfatal drug overdoses dramatically rising during the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. needs a new strategy for countering this menace. In a number of cities, steps are underway to counteract this horrible loss of life. One is the foundation of safe consumption sites — places where addicted people . . . |

teleSUR (2021-12-17). Latin America Must Unite To Fight US Interference: Llorenti. telesurenglish.net In an interview to TeleSUR on Thursday, the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-Peoples' Trade Agreement (ALBA-TCP) Secretary Sacha Llorenti pointed out that Latin American integration is essential to fight regional issues amid the COVID-19 pandemic. | RELATED: | "Only united, we will be able to fight recession, which has increased the capitalist system's social inequalities and the impact of the U…

WSWS (2021-12-17). Only a COVID-19 elimination strategy can protect educators, students, and their families from the Omicron tsunami! wsws.org The nearly two years of the pandemic have conclusively demonstrated that a science-based strategy that prioritizes saving workers' lives over corporate profits and investor wealth will only be imposed through the independent intervention of the working class.

Binoy Kampmark (2021-12-17). Covid Testing Rackets and Flying Again. dissidentvoice.org The young boy of seven or so was kissing a toy doll affixed with an alarmed face. The doll, no doubt of full Chinese make, was fully tarted up, lips glossy, eyes wide, a blonde with curls. "Stop making out with her," cried his mother, sitting in the seat beside him with concern. "It's creepy." …

ecns.cn (2021-12-17). 'Virus hunters' race against time in East China. ecns.cn Medical workers at Zhenhai District Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, have been devoted to the fight against COVID-19 since the first local case of a new surge was reported on Dec. 5, 2021.

WSWS (2021-12-17). UK announces 88,000 COVID cases in 24 hours as daily record broken twice. wsws.org Wednesday saw the UK pass 11 million cases of COVID—only the fourth to country in the world to reach the tally. It has taken just three weeks for another million people to be infected.

WSWS (2021-12-17). Mother threatened with jail and hefty fines for protecting her son from rampant COVID-19 infections in UK schools. wsws.org Sarah Paxman was called to a meeting at her son's primary school under police caution for refusing to send Stanley, who has a number of rare conditions, into school while no serious mitigation measures are in place.

Brett Wilkins (2021-12-17). Unions Demand Covid-19 Safety Measures for Health Workers Be Made Permanent. zcomm.org "OSHA must act swiftly to extend lifesaving protections for health care workers and to create new Covid-19 safety rules for all workers."brett wil…

WSWS (2021-12-17). Pennsylvania educators call for immediate closure of schools to stop the spread of COVID-19. wsws.org Our committee demands the immediate closure of all schools and non-essential workplaces as part of a massive public health measure to stop the spread of COVID-19 and the highly infectious Omicron variant.

WSWS (2021-12-17). Reports point to the rapid spread of cases in US auto plants amid an explosion of Omicron. wsws.org While official case numbers are for the most part being tightly guarded by management and the UAW, available information points to a continuing surge of COVID cases in auto plants.

WSWS (2021-12-17). Fred Meyer and QFC grocery workers in Portland set to strike Friday. wsws.org Workers are confronting a rapid increase in the cost of living as well as the added risk of being in a workplace with increased danger of daily exposure to the virus.

WSWS (2021-12-17). German Chancellor Scholz's first speech: Praising Merkel, threatening Russia and committing to mass infection. wsws.org The new Chancellor's remarks confirmed the assessment of the WSWS that the programme of the so-called traffic light coalition of SPD (red), Liberals (FDP, yellow) and Greens is a declaration of war on the working class.

WSWS (2021-12-17). Scientists warn of looming catastrophe as Omicron spreads globally. wsws.org The most serious and principled scientists are issuing increasingly stark warnings of the coming tidal wave of infections, hospitalizations and deaths as winter approaches in the Northern Hemisphere.

WSWS (2021-12-17). Cornell University shuts down in the face of a massive surge of Omicron infections. wsws.org A massive surge of Omicron infections at Cornell University's Ithaca campus forced the university president to shut down and raise the threat level to "red."

Staff (2021-12-16). Headlines for December 16, 2021. democracynow.org Unprecedented December Storms Hit Central U.S. as Biden Tours Kentucky Tornado Damage, U.K. and South Africa Set Coronavirus Records as Omicron Spreads Rapidly, Senate Approves Record $778 Billion Pentagon Budget, Build Back Better Act Stalls in Senate Again as Joe Manchin Rejects Expanded Child Tax Credit, Civil Rights Leaders Demand Senate Democrats Pass Federal Voting Rights Legislation, Democrats Call on Biden to Extend Student Loan Pause, Grant Debt Forgiveness, Syrian Conflict Has Stripped Civilians of Access to Healthcare, Created Humanitarian Disaster, Protesters Demand Mexico Decriminalize Immigration to…

teleSUR (2021-12-16). Cuba Timely Isolates Four Imported Omicron Cases. telesurenglish.net On Thursday, Cuba's Tropical Medicine Institute Pedro Kouri (IPK) detected four Omicron COVID-19 strain cases in travelers who came from Africa and remain asymptomatic. | RELATED: | Two of the confirmed cases are Cubahidraulica Company workers who returned from South Africa and tested positive for COVID-19 while staying in mandatory quarantine. | The other cases correspond to an Ethiopian citizen and a Somalian to…

Amy Goodman (2021-12-16). More Than 100 Firms Across the World Can Make the mRNA Vaccine If Tech Is Shared. truthout.org Image Credit: Facebook: Global Justice Now | As the coronavirus variant Omicron spreads across the world at an unprecedented rate, a group of vaccine experts has just released a list of over 100 companies in Africa, Asia and Latin America with the potential to produce mRNA vaccine. They say it is the one of the most viable solutions to fight vaccine inequity around the world and combat the spread of coronavirus variants, including Omicron. We speak to Achal Prabhala, one of the vaccine exper…

WSWS (2021-12-16). Omicron explodes in Australia as governments scrap nearly all safety measures. wsws.org As a result of truly criminal decisions taken by governments, Liberal-National and Labor Party alike, millions of people face infection within weeks.

Staff (2021-12-16). As Omicron Spreads, 100+ Firms in Africa, Asia & Latin America Can Make mRNA Vaccine If Tech Shared. democracynow.org As the coronavirus variant Omicron spreads across the world at an unprecedented rate, a group of vaccine experts has just released a list of over 100 companies in Africa, Asia and Latin America with the potential to produce mRNA vaccine. They say it is the one of the most viable solutions to fight vaccine inequity around the world and combat the spread of coronavirus variants, including Omicron. We speak to Achal Prabhala, one of the vaccine experts who compiled the list. If mRNA technology could be shared with the listed companies, "we could vaccinate the world in as close to six months from now," says Prabhala.

teleSUR (2021-12-16). South Africa Keeps Restrictions Low As COVID-19 Cases Rise. telesurenglish.net On Thursday, the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) has retained lockdown restrictions at "adjusted level 1," which is the lowest of a five-tier system of restrictions. | RELATED: | "It makes sense to keep lockdown at this level as hospitals are not overwhelmed at this stage. We need to tighten lockdown measures when hospitalization admissions and ICU are higher," said Angelique Coetzee, chairperson of the Sout…

Colin Todhunter (2021-12-16). 'The Truth of COVID-19 — The India Statement': Citizens and Experts Call for a Halt to COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout in India. globalresearch.ca The mass rollout of COVID-19 vaccines should be halted immediately. These experimental vaccines pose serious dangers. That is the message contained in a statement from concerned citizens soon to be forwarded to India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi. | The statement's signatories …

Marzieh Rahmani (2021-12-16). Iranian vaccines to be exported to other countries soon: FM. en.mehrnews.com Hungary agreed to accept the visa of Iranian citizens vaccinated with Iranian-made vaccines, the Iranian Foreign Minister said, adding that in the near future, Iranian vaccines will be exported to other countries.

Editor (2021-12-16). China-Africa friendship continues to flourish on vaccine, trade, renewable energy. mronline.org China-Africa friendship is expected to continue to flourish as cooperation is further deepened in various areas after the ongoing 8th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in Dakar, Senegal.

Andreas Noack (2021-12-16). Video: Graphene Hydroxide in the mRNA Vaccine Vial: Assassination of Dr. Andreas Noack. globalresearch.ca ** | First published on …

Global Research (2021-12-16). Bombshell Document Dump on Pfizer Vaccine Data. globalresearch.ca What is contained in Pfizer's confidential report is detailed evidence on the impacts of the "vaccine" on mortality and morbidity. This data which emanates from the Horse's Mouth can be used to confront as well formulate legal procedures against Big Pharma, the governments, the WHO and the media.

ecns.cn (2021-12-16). Sinovac booster shot shows 94% neutralization efficacy against Omicron: company. ecns.cn The latest study shows a third shot of Chinese biotech firm Sinovac's inactivated vaccine can more than double the vaccine's neutralizing antibody positive rate against the Omicron variant.

Internationalist 360 ∞ (2021-12-16). Why Cuba Does Not Have an Anti-Vaccine Movement. libya360.wordpress.com Marc Vandepitte, Toon Danhieux Increasingly, large sectors of the European population, and in the US to a lesser extent, openly express their distrust towards their government's policies to combat COVID-19. The reaction of the traditional policy is one of panic and is characterized by paternalism and repression: general obligation to vaccinate and restricting freedom of…

Steve Kirsch (2021-12-16). Latest VAERS estimate: 388,000 Americans killed by the COVID vaccines. globalresearch.ca An independent derivation of the VAERS URF using the CMS death data leads to a URF of 44.64 which then leads to a 388K excess death estimate. | My …

Michael Nevradakis (2021-12-16). Digital Surveillance — the Real Motive Behind Push to Vaccinate Kids. globalresearch.ca "The real purpose behind the historic, unprecedented push to vaccinate the very young, even against diseases like COVID that do not pose a threat to them, is to fold the current generation of children into the blossoming global digital identity …

_____ (2021-12-16). Most American homeowners are 'house poor'. popularresistance.org During the pandemic, Americans scrambled to buy homes. Now they're struggling to afford to stay in them. | In a recent survey, 40% of homeowners with mortgages said they work second, full-time jobs to afford housing expenses. A majority of the 1,002 people surveyed by Consumer Affairs feel like they can't afford their housing expenses, and did not anticipate the extra costs of upkeep when they bought their homes.

_____ (2021-12-16). Wage Inequality Continued To Increase In 2020. popularresistance.org Newly available wage data from the Social Security Administration allow us to analyze wage trends for the top 1.0% and other very high earners as well as for the bottom 90% during 2020. The upward distribution of wages from the bottom 90% to the top 1.0% that was evident over the period from 1979 to 2019 was especially strong in the 2020 pandemic year, yielding historically high wage levels and shares of all wages for the top 1.0% and 0.1%. Correspondingly, the share of wages earned by the bottom 95% fell in 2020. | Two features of the pandemic economy distorted wage patterns in 2020 and led to faster wage growth…

Dean Baker (2021-12-16). Quick Note on the Inflation Debate and November Retail Sales. cepr.net People are still not spending the money banked in the pandemic. This means that we have less reason to fear excess demand driving inflation.

Prof Michel Chossudovsky (2021-12-16). Fake Science, Invalid Data: There is No Such Thing as a "Confirmed Covid-19 Case". There is No Pandemic. globalresearch.ca Approximately 260 million people Worldwide have been categorized as "confirmed Covid-19 cases". The alleged pandemic is said to have resulted in more than 5 million Covid-19 related deaths. Both sets of figures: morbidity and mortality are invalid.

WSWS (2021-12-16). Biden presses forward with February 2022 resumption of student loan repayments. wsws.org The Biden administration is insisting that federal student loan repayments must be restarted on February 1, 2022, after being paused for nearly two years, despite the continuing spread of the pandemic.

WSWS (2021-12-16). Governments refuse to take action as Omicron variant surges throughout the world. wsws.org As the official death toll from the COVID-19 pandemic has exceeded 800,000 in the United States, public health officials are warning of a "tsunami" of COVID-19 cases in the coming weeks and months.

WSWS (2021-12-16). Time's person of the year Elon Musk: Worshipping the pandemic profiteer. wsws.org Time magazine is celebrating a billionaire who personifies the most noxious tendencies in contemporary capitalism.

imperial.ac.uk (2021-12-16). COVID-19 experts from Imperial and Singapore share lessons from pandemic. imperial.ac.uk Scientists from the UK and Singapore have come together to discuss their research during the COVID-19 pandemic at an online symposium.

Marlee Kokotovic (2021-12-16). Amazon plastic waste increased 29% during pandemic. nationofchange.org "We understand people need Amazon. And so we're hoping Amazon can fix this problem and become a leader in reducing plastic, which is really important for the oceans."

Kevin Mwanza (2021-12-16). Pfizer CEO: Omicron Spreading Fast But Mild Isn't A Good Thing, Could Infect Billions, Lead to More Mutations. moguldom.com The omicron variant appears to be milder than previous strains but it is spreading faster and this could lead to more mutations in the future, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla told The Wall Street Journal. Bourla said he expects the number of confirmed covid-19 cases to surge from dozens to millions over the next few weeks. …

teleSUR (2021-12-16). Lucia Hiriart, Widow of Dictator Augusto Pinochet, Dies at 99. telesurenglish.net "On Thursday, December 16, the widow of dictator Augusto Pinochet, Lucia Hiriart, died at the age of 99," Chilevisión reported. | According to initial reports, Hiriart died at her home, suffering from multiple medical complications, specifically respiratory complications, which led her to be hospitalized on several occasions in the last few years. | RELATED: | Hiriart spent her last days at home and surrounded by her…

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