Daily Archives: December 22, 2021

2021-12-22: News Headlines

New Atlas (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 …

Pavan Kulkarni (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…

WSWS (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.

WSWS (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."

WSWS (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.

WSWS (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.

WSWS (2021-12-22). COVID rapidly spreading through Detroit auto plants with reports of at least three deaths. wsws.org COVID-19 infections are spreading throughout Detroit area auto plants, with at least three deaths reported by co-workers in recent days.

Peter Koenig (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 …

WSWS (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.

WSWS (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.

Ann Brown (2021-12-21). As Omicron Is Expected To Overtake Delta, Democrat Senators Cory Booker And Elizabeth Warren Announce They Have Covid Virus. moguldom.com The coronavirus variant omicron accounted for 73 percent of new infections during the week of Dec. 13, and among the newly infected are Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Cory Booker of New Jersey. Along with Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado, all three announced they have tested positive for coronavirus, have received covid-19 booster shots and are having mild …

Dana Sanchez (2021-12-21). Senior Economist At Moody's, Mark Zandi: I'm Lowering My Economic Forecast For US Due To Omicron Variant. moguldom.com Moody's Analytics is expected to downgrade its U.S. economic forecast by as much as one percentage point in the coming days due to the double blow from the intensifying pandemic and Sen. Joe Manchin's opposition to President Joe Biden's signature Build Back Better legislation. Mark Zandi, the chief economist at Moody's Analytics, told CNN on Monday that …

Editor2 (2021-12-21). Want to Know How to Beat COVID? Look at China. orinocotribune.com By Scott Scheffer — Dec 17, 2021 | The world is now nearing the end of the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The United States has the highest death toll in the world — 823,390 as of Dec. 16. | With all the scientific resources available, and billions of dollars in the vaults of the richest capitalist class in history, the U.S. should have been able to succeed in a vaccination campaign and treat everyone before they were infected. Vaccines should have made their way throughout the world, including the global south where the challenges of poverty magnify the horrors of the pandemic. | Instead, the W…

_____ (2021-12-21). Mutual Aid And Solidarity In Nigeria's #EndSARS Protests. popularresistance.org On October 18, 2020, during the #EndSARS protests against police violence and state corruption in Nigeria's capital Abuja, a photo was shared on social media that quickly drew nationwide attention. The image showed passionate protesters with their fists pumped in the air, mouths wide open singing songs and chanting slogans. Some were holding placards that read "Our Lives Matter." | What drew the attention of the public, however, was the woman right at the center of the image. With a small Nigerian flag in her left hand and missing her right leg, the woman who was later identified as Jane Obiene stood out because…

Kevin Mwanza (2021-12-21). Global Study: 4 In 10 With Covid Are Spreading It Unknowingly. moguldom.com Four out of 10 people who are infected with covid-19 are spreading the disease unknowingly, according to a global study. Findings of a study by researchers from Peking University showed that more than 40 percent of the tested population confirmed to be infected with coronavirus were asymptomatic, exhibiting no symptoms of the disease. The study, …

Staff (2021-12-21). Headlines for December 21, 2021. democracynow.org WHO Urges Cancellation of Holiday Gatherings as Omicron Spreads at Record Pace, Omicron Variant Surpasses Delta, Now Accounts for Three-Quarters of U.S. Cases, New York Confirms Record Number of Coronavirus Infections for Fourth Straight Day, NHL Cancels Hockey Games Amid COVID Surge; Record Number of NFL Players Test Positive, White House to Make Half-Billion COVID-19 Home Test Kits Available for Free, Himalayan Glaciers Melt at Accelerating Rate as Climate Emergency Deepens, EPA Rule Would Require Gas-Powered Cars to Average 55 Miles Per Gallon by 2026, Burmese Military Massacred 40 Men and Buried Bodies in Mas…

Danny Katch (2021-12-21). 2022 Must Be the Year the Left Proactively Shapes the COVID Agenda. truthout.org As we head into the winter holidays nervously checking news about the Omicron variant and rising COVID-19 case numbers, let's take a moment to think of how a more just society might handle the coming weeks. | Schools and many workplaces would offer remote options for the final week before Christmas to slow the spread just before people gather with older relatives and immunocompromised loved ones. Airports and bus stations would have free rapid tests for all passengers traveling for the holidays. Finall…

Dean Baker (2021-12-21). We Temporarily Interrupt this Blog. cepr.net Hi everyone, this is Dean's colleague Dawn, CEPR's Development Director. I am hijacking Dean's blog as I do on occasion to make sure you saw this post I wrote about Dean's work on vaccines and intellectual property and to point out why that work is worthy of your support. I was thinking as I began …

WSWS (2021-12-21). Biden administration doubles down on "vaccine-only" strategy as Omicron emerges as dominant strain in US. wsws.org Biden is delivering a nationally televised address this evening that will be focused on reassuring Wall Street that no measures will be taken to stop the transmission of the Omicron variant.

WSWS (2021-12-21). Brazil flying blind in Omicron surge as Bolsonaro attacks child vaccinations. wsws.org Preparing a response to the Omicron variant that will be a full-blown catastrophe, Bolsonaro announced plans to require medical prescriptions for child vaccinations.

Rodney Atkinson (2021-12-21). Boosters Boost Infections, "Omicron Mild", Least Vaccinated Countries Fewer Deaths, Vaccinated at Greatest Risk. globalresearch.ca In the UK, after Government manipulation of hospitalisations and deaths to exclude more recent data, the truth is now emerging. In Scotland for August to November 2021 over 85% of deaths were in the vaccinated. Boosters are merely boosting COVID …

WSWS (2021-12-21). German elderly care workers report dramatic pandemic experiences. wsws.org The World Socialist Web Site spoke with caregivers in nursing and retirement homes as part of the Global Workers' Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Marie Kelly (2021-12-21). In a Pennsylvania prison, a COVID-19 related death. workers.org A 52-year-old man, Melvin James Anderson IV, died while incarcerated in the Chester County Correctional Complex and Youth Center in Pocopson, Pennsylvania, Dec. 7. He was jailed while waiting to be tried for a charge of burglary, which he may or may not have committed. How did he die? He . . . |

Isheka N. Harrison (2021-12-21). CDC: Omicron Variant Caused More Than 70 Percent Of Recent Covid-19 Cases In US. moguldom.com The Omicron variant of covid-19 is raging abroad and in the United States, and accounts for more than 70 percent of new cases, according to the U.S. Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC). For the week ending Dec. 18, the CDC reported that Omicron made up 73 percent of covid cases, a tremendous increase …

WSWS (2021-12-21). COVID-19 explodes in Spain as PSOE-Podemos government refuses action. wsws.org The surge in infections in Spain is a warning of the dangers posed by the virus, which the Socialist Party (PSOE)-Podemos government has let spread unchecked.

WSWS (2021-12-21). Workers Struggles: The Americas. wsws.org Teachers in two districts are planning walkouts over stalled contract talks while London, Ontario city workers are discussing work refusals amidst the latest COVID wave.

Anand Naidoo (2021-12-21). The Heat: COVID-19 surge in the U.S. and UK. america.cgtn.com COVID-19 cases are surging in the United States and Europe. As the Omicron variant poses a new threat.

WSWS (2021-12-21). Mack Trucks and UAW continue to push for profits at Macungie, Pennsylvania plant after worker dies of COVID-19. wsws.org Mack and the United Auto Workers have continued with operations even after William Domitrovitsch Jr., who had an elderly parent and young child, died on December 15 after catching COVID-19.

Lauren Smith (2021-12-21). Green Party Assembles Circular Firing Squad With its Support of Mandated COVID-19 Jabs. covertactionmagazine.com On December 8th the Green's nine-member Steering Committee, its administrative arm, released a press statement in support of mandatory Covid-19 …

WSWS (2021-12-21). Michigan legislature passes bill that would keep kids in schools without teachers. wsws.org The bipartisan legislation is a blatant attempt to undermine teachers' recent successful efforts to force the closure of schools to stop the spread of COVID-19.

WSWS (2021-12-21). As UK Omicron cases and deaths surge, Johnson government does nothing to protect population. wsws.org Despite warnings from his own advisers that the ineffectual "Plan B" measures currently in place will allow the population to be overwhelmed by an avalanche of COVID cases and deaths, Johnson announced no new measures yesterday after meeting with his Cabinet.

WSWS (2021-12-21). Omicron surge threatens to overwhelm health systems across the United States. wsws.org The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Monday that the more transmissible variant now accounts for 73 percent of all COVID-19 infections in the United States.

WSWS (2021-12-21). UK Tesco workers—reject USDAW-Unite pay sellout! wsws.org USDAW and Unite are recommending workers call off their offensive and accept an effective pay cut in conditions in which they occupy a powerful economic position and confront the serious dangers of COVID-19 in the workplace.

WSWS (2021-12-21). Over 1,000 children have died from COVID-19 in the United States. wsws.org Despite staggering levels of infections and deaths among children in the US, the Biden administration has doubled down on keeping schools open.

WSWS (2021-12-21). Scientists warn European governments' inaction on Omicron variant threatens social collapse. wsws.org Warnings that unprecedented numbers of workers may fall ill, leading to mass deaths and infrastructure collapse, point to the urgent need to halt transmission of the virus.

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