(2019-12-21). Facing scrutiny in the US, Purdue Pharma markets OxyContin overseas. wsws.org Like Purdue Pharma did in the US, sales representatives for Mundipharma are aggressively marketing OxyContin to physicians in other countries for everyday aches and pains, downplaying its addictive properties.
(2019-12-21). Bullion beats sanctions: Muslim states may switch to gold & barter trade. rt.com 
Iran, Malaysia, Turkey and Qatar are looking into using gold and barter for trade to shield themselves from any future punitive economic measures, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has announced. | The idea was voiced as the leaders of many Islamic nations gathered for a four-day Islamic summit in Kuala Lumpur, which was boycotted by Saudi Arabia. In his address, the Malaysian prime minister said that while some of the states present at the meeting, such as Iran and Qatar, are facing economic restrictions due to "unilateral decisions" of some nations, others should remember that they can face the same…
(2019-12-21). Sleeping dragon no more: China about to replace US as strongest naval power and Washington is too late to stop it. rt.com 
China might soon shift the world naval balance and unseat the US as the modern master of the seas. The process appears to already be under way, and there is little that Washington can do about stopping it. | Visibly shaken by what it has seen on a photo showing just one of China's military shipyards near Shanghai, the business magazine Forbes recently told its readers an alarming story about the "impressive rate" and "vast scale" of Chinese naval modernization. | Today, China Changxing island pic.twitter.com/cxVmRiMjiQ— ÈæôÈæë&per…
(2019-12-21). End of the free trade myth. mronline.org 
"Is that a big deal?", some may ask. It is to those who have pushed for achieving the far-reaching liberalisation of trade in an unequal global order, first under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), and then under the auspices of the agreements that established the WTO and defined and expanded its remit. | Source
(2019-12-21). CIA torture is 'snow secret': Edward Snowden roasts CIA's feelgood holiday tweet. rt.com 
Every now and again the CIA does its best to appear relatable, and every time the agency gets put back in its place. Now, NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden hijacked a festive tweet to slam the CIA's torture practices. | "It's *snow secret* that we love winter," the clandestine agency tweeted on Saturday, marking the first day of winter in the US. | Snowden was acerbic in his response. "It's *snow secret* that you tortured Gul Rahman for weeks at a black site, then chained him naked to a concrete floor until he died in the near-winter cold," he tweeted. | t.co/UjwEE3GXjb (2019-12-21). 'OK' is okay: Military probe clears West Point cadets of 'racist' motive in hand gestures during football game. rt.com 
Army and Navy cadets accused of flashing "white power" hand signals during a televised football game have been absolved of "racist" intent, a military investigation determined, instead finding it was part of an "innocent game." | Confirming what many had already surmised, the military's internal investigation said the cadets were not motivated by "ideologies or movements that are contrary to the Army values" in displaying the gestures at the football match last weekend — known to most as the 'OK' symbol. | "We investigated this matter thoroughly. Last Saturday we had reason to believe these actions were a…
(2019-12-21). Eleven killed in anti-citizenship law protests in India. yenisafak.com At least 11 protesters were killed during anti-citizenship bill protest in Uttar Pradesh province Friday, local media reported.According to news agency Press Trust of India (PTI), five protesters were killed in Meerut, two in Bijnor, while one each in Sambhal, Firozabad and Kanpur districts of northern Uttar Pradesh state.A boy was killed in a stampede in the city of Varanasi of the state when a violent mob was being chased by police personnel.Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police OP Singh, however, claimed that none of the deaths occurred due to police actions.On Friday, massive protests against the Citizensh…
(2019-12-21). Blood Memory Rising, Book Review of Standing with Standing Rock. indybay.org 'Standing with Standing Rock,' is an encyclopedia of resistance, which chronicles the Water Protector movement from the first run to Washington, and on to the camps, and the surveillance by TigerSwan, to the ultimate international divestment campaign. In its 29 chapters are poetry, essays and discussions of Indigenous rights and Treaties.
(2019-12-21). Thousands March To Support Trump's Impeachment. zcomm.org People turned out in over 600 communities all over the United States calling for President Donald Trump's impeachment…
(2019-12-21). Buffy Sainte Marie Truthtelling Indigenous Genocide. indybay.org Buffy Sainte Marie described the genocide, slavery, murder and rape of Indigenous Peoples, that the kings and queens, military, churches and banks are responsible for, speaking with AIM West's Tony Gonzales, during the 50th Anniversary of the Occupation of Alcatraz.
(2019-12-21). Amazon Logistics set to surpass delivery volume of FedEx, UPS by 2022. wsws.org The advanced techniques of workplace exploitation along with low wages and breakneck conditions that have made Amazon notorious are being set as the standard for the entire logistics industry.
(2019-12-21). 'We want to win': Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool focused on World Club Cup success against Flamengo. rt.com 
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp admitted his team were advised to stay at home, but insists they're committed to victory in the World Club Cup final against Copa Libertadores champions Flamengo on Saturday. | The two clubs headed into FIFA's World Club Cup competition with different priorities, as Klopp explained in his pre-match press conference on Friday. | "This situation is different for Flamengo and for us," Klopp said. | "Flamengo got sent here from their continent with a clear order to win it and to come back as heroes. We got told, 'Stay at home and play the Carabao (League) Cup'. That's a massive differen…
(2019-12-21). Group Discussion: The Christian Church and Marxism. indybay.org NPML, 6501 Telegraph Ave, Oakland (just North of Alcatraz Ave.)…
(2019-12-21). Oaklanders Hold Powerful "Impeach And Remove" Demonstration. indybay.org Photos: Leon Kunstenaar. Pro Bono Photo | Hundreds of rallies throughout the country in support of House vote to impeach Trump…
(2019-12-21). Civilians left behind as bias & double standards of West ruin 2 UNSC resolutions on humanitarian aid for Syria — Moscow. rt.com 
As the mainstream media pounds Moscow for "vetoing aid for Syria," Russia's UN mission says there was no winner in the latest UN battle during which its own draft resolution was defeated by "bias and double standards." | The Russian mission to the UN has offered their take on two rival resolutions on Syria which the Security Council rejected during a contentious Friday vote. | Read more | | Russia & China veto UN Security Council resolution on Syria truce that would've protected terrorists from 'COMPLETE ANNIHILATION' | One, drafted by Belgium, Ger…
(2019-12-21). Police find no suspicious package at Berlin Christmas market after bomb scare prompts evacuation. rt.com 
Police in the German capital of Berlin gave all clear to a Christmas market after two suspicious looking men were arrested at the attempt to flee, sparking evacuation and a search for a "suspcious" package. | The market, taking place in Berlin's Breitscheidplatz, was evacuated on Saturday evening. The police said that visitors left "calmly and prudently," so officers could comb through the stalls. | Two people were taken into custody for acting suspiciously, police reported. The Christmas market was then evacuated out of precaution allegedly after the name of one of the suspects was recorded incorrectly during…
(2019-12-21). Rise Up Singing Holiday Potluck. indybay.org Avalon Visions | 2815 Porter Street, Soquel, CA 95073…
(2019-12-21). UK to leave European Union at end of January after Johnson passes Withdrawal Agreement. wsws.org A total of 38 Labour MPs defied Jeremy Corbyn's instruction to oppose the bill.
(2019-12-21). Pakistani court sentences professor to death for blasphemy. rt.com 
An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan has sentenced a university professsor to death for insulting the Prophet Muhammed. The trial has already seen his defense lawyer shot dead, under the Muslim world's harshest blasphemy regime. | Thirty-three-year-old Junaid Hafeez was arrested in 2013 and charged with making derogatory remarks about the Islamic Prophet Muhammed on social media. Under the country's harsh blasphemy law, he was sentenced on Saturday to death by hanging. | His lawyers claim he was framed by Islamic extremists for his liberal views, and said they plan to appeal the verdict. "There can't be a fair…
(2019-12-21). 'Hope you understand as a Native Indian': Indian MP shreds Warren for criticizing canceled meeting with US reps over Kashmir. rt.com 
An Indian MP has taken US Senator Elizabeth Warren to task after she raised concerns about a canceled meeting between New Delhi and a fellow progressive lawmaker, poking fun at her self-declared Native American bona fides. | After Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar scrapped a scheduled meeting with US lawmakers — including Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) — during the 2+2 summit in Washington on Friday, Warren fired off a tweet calling "efforts to silence" the congresswoman "deeply troubling." The tweet prompted a swift mocking response from BJP lawmaker Rajeev Chandrasekhar, arguing t…
(2019-12-21). Inequality and falling living standards fuel political "fragility" in Australia. wsws.org The financial elite's enrichment has occurred at the direct expense of the wages, working conditions and social services of the working class.
(2019-12-21). Where Are the Teamsters Going? zcomm.org The Teamsters are long overdue for a fundamental change in direction after two decades of stagnation…
(2019-12-21). World Bank concerned about "global debt wave" wsws.org Since 2010, debt in developing economies has risen to a total of around 170 percent of their gross domestic product, up by 54 percentage points in just eight years.
(2019-12-21). 'Interference in domestic affairs': Germany fumes at US sanctions on Nord Stream 2 pipeline. rt.com 
Berlin has rejected a package of sweeping US sanctions meant to halt the construction of the German-Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea, denouncing it as interference in its domestic affairs. | Germany "has noticed with regret that the sanctions initiated by the US Congress against Nord Stream2 and Turkstream [pipelines] came into force after being signed by the US president," deputy government spokesperson Ulrike Demmer tweeted on Saturday. | The federal government rejects such extraterritorial…
(2019-12-21). No, McConnell — Biased Jurors and No Witnesses Do Not Make for a "Fair Trial" truthout.org In my decades as a criminal defense attorney, I have never seen a trial where the jurors admit they aren't impartial, coordinate the trial process with the defendant and then, as promised, find the defendant not guilty. And yet, that is exactly what Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell aims to do. | Negating any semblance of conducting a fair trial, McConnell has brazenly declared his intention to violate the senators' oath of impartiality and deny the right to call witnesses to testify at the…
(2019-12-21). CIA torture is 'snow secret': Edward Snowden roasts CIA's feelgood holiday tweet. rt.com Every now and again the CIA does its best to appear relatable, and every time the agency gets put back in its place. Now, NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden hijacked a festive tweet to slam the CIA's torture practices. | "It's *snow secret* that we love winter," the clandestine agency tweeted on Saturday, marking the first day of winter in the US. | Snowden was acerbic in his response. "It's *snow secret* that you tortured Gul Rahman for weeks at a black site, then chained him naked to a concrete floor until he died in the near-winter cold," he tweeted. | It's *snow secret* you tortured Gul Rahman for weeks at a…
(2019-12-21). Cruise out of control: WATCH 2 ocean liners crash into each other in the Caribbean. rt.com 
A video shows a cruise ship ramming into a similar vessel during maneuvers in the port of the Mexican island of Cozumel in the Caribbean. Over 7,000 people were on the ocean liners operated by Carnival. | The footage shows the Carnival Legend's nose crashing into the back deck of the Carnival Glory in turbulent waters early Friday. Part of the Glory's deck was crushed by the impact, with debris falling into the sea. | Six people received minor injuries in what the world's largest cruise operator, Carnival Corps, called an 'allision', a nautical term for a collision of a moving ship with a stationary object.
(2019-12-21). Bike Ad More Newsworthy Than Pentagon Budget. zcomm.org What is more newsworthy—a decision to give the Pentagon three-quarters of a trillion dollars, or an ad for an exercise bike? If you picked the Pentagon spending, you may not have a future in corporate media…
(2019-12-21). Anti-labor USMCA NAFTA 2.0 With IAM Matt Mckinnon & LCLAA Al Rojas. indybay.org WorkWeek interviews IAM Legislative staff member Matt Mckinnon and LCLAA Sacramento Al Rojas about the effect of UMCA NAFTA 2.0 on working people in the US and Mexico. It is being supported by Trump, National Chamber of Commerce, Pelosi and most Democrats as well as AFL-CIO president Trumpka and the UAW, USWA and most unions.
(2019-12-21). Hawaiian protestors stay firm at Mauna Kea. peoplesdispatch.org The indigenous inhabitants of the island state have opposed the telescope over what they consider to be a consistent desecration of the mountain, which already has 13 telescopes on the summit.
(2019-12-21). UEFA fines Turkey football body for military salute. yenisafak.com UEFA fined the Turkish Football Federation on Friday for performing military salute goal celebrations during the UEFA EURO 2020 qualifiers."To fine the Turkish Football Federation ‚Ǩ50,000 [$55,369] as an overall punishment, to include inter alia the crowd disturbances by its supporters on the occasion of the UEFA European Championship 2020 Qualifying Round match between the national teams of Turkey and France on 14 October 2019," European football's governing body said in a statement.Several Turkish players were reprimanded for manifestations of a non-sporting nature during matches against Fran…
(2019-12-21). Millions of Dollars Poured Into Ads Fueling Trump Impeachment Fight. truthout.org Political candidates and groups shelled out millions on impeachment-related TV ads before the House impeached President Donald Trump Wednesday, according to a new report from the Wesleyan Media Project. | The analysis, produced in partnership with OpenSecrets, reveals tha…
(2019-12-21). 'Turkey to act if Libya greenlights troop deployment'. yenisafak.com Turkey is ready to take necessary steps if the UN-recognized government of Libya makes a request, Vice President Fuat Oktay said on Saturday, referring to the deployment of Turkish soldiers in Libya."If our Libyan brothers make such a request, Turkey is ready to do what is necessary," Oktay said, speaking at a trade and cooperation meeting held in Istanbul.On Nov. 27, Ankara and Tripoli reached two separate memorandums of understanding, one on military cooperation and the other on maritime boundaries of countries in the Eastern Mediterranean.Following the military cooperation deal, Turkish President Recep Tayyip…
(2019-12-21). 'Sanctions just a hiccup': Nord Stream 2 will be completed, & US knows it but cannot bear the thought — former US diplomat. rt.com 
The Nord Stream 2 pipeline is going to be completed despite the latest US sanctions, former US diplomat Jim Jatras told RT, adding that the last-ditch attempt to derail its launch is a gesture of despair by Washington. | The 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, signed by US President Donald Trump into law on Friday, envisions harsh sanctions for the foreign contractors involved in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. | The bill gives the companies 30 days to wind down operations before they are put on a blacklist, their visas revoked and assets frozen. Allseas, a Swiss-Dutch company that has bee…
(2019-12-21). Turkish parliament ratifies 2020 budget. yenisafak.com Turkish lawmakers ratified the 2020 budget Saturday following a 12-day marathon session in the general assembly.Parliament Speaker Mustafa Sentop announced the budget was supported by 329 lawmakers while 159 voted against it in the 600-seat chamber.Lawmakers from the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party and opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) approved budget.Turkey earmarked 88.5 billion liras ($15 billion) for public investment in transportation, industry, health and education.Expenditures were projected at 1.095 trillion liras ($0.19 trillion). Also, non-interest expenses will round up at 956.5 bil…
(2019-12-21). Pakistan's new chief justice takes oath. yenisafak.com Justice Gulzar Ahmed took oath as Pakistan's 27th Chief Justice on Saturday amid an ongoing political chaos that has gripped the nation over conviction of the former military ruler Gen. Pervez Musharraf in a high treason case earlier this week.President Arif Alvi administered oath to the new Chief Justice at a ceremony at the President House in capital Islamabad, which was also attended by Prime Minister Imran Khan, Army Chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, the air force and naval chiefs, as well as the cabinet members, state-run Pakistan Television reported.Justice Ahmed, who has replaced his predecessor Justice Asif S…
(2019-12-21). Everything You Wanted to Know about Climate Change, but Were Afraid to Ask. indybay.org Half Moon Bay Library, 620 Correas Street, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019…
(2019-12-21). Swedish justice ministry manipulated crime statistics — study. rt.com 
Sweden's Ministry of Justice pressured the country's Crime Prevention Council to hide, manipulate, or ignore potentially embarrassing crime statistics, a university study has found. | Sweden's Crime Prevention Council (Brå) has a difficult task. In a country where media outlets omit police-circulated descriptions of suspects' ethnicity, and the government actively downplays the surge in gun crime and bombings in its immigrant ghettoes, Brå is charged with compiling factual, accurate crime statisti…
(2019-12-21). Good Riddance to the WTO. zcomm.org Rich countries embraced trade multilateralism when it suited them, and now they're abandoning it. That may not be such a bad thing…
(2019-12-21). What Will It Take to Rid Our Store Shelves of BPA and Other Dangerous Chemicals? truthout.org This is part 4 of a 4-part investigation of the science surrounding the chemical BPA and the U.S. regulatory push to discredit independent evidence of harm while favoring pro-industry science despite significant shortcomings. | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — A percussion of metal-on-metal echoes through the lab as empty food cans drop one by one off a conveyor belt and into rounded poc…
(2019-12-21). People Power in Romania Stopped a Mining Project. Now the Corporation Is Suing. truthout.org Recently, a colorful group gathered outside a World Bank building in downtown Washington, D.C. to defend a community 5,000 miles away in Romania. Most had never met each other but when each pointed to her or his hand-drawn sign it was smiles and nods all round. And before you knew it, they were chanting slogans together as if they had done this before, including one in the Romanian language: "Uniti Salvam Rosia Montana!" | Several Romanian citizens were joined at the demonstration by activis…
(2019-12-21). Turkey-Israel relations following Libya deal: ANALYSIS. yenisafak.com Turkey was at the center of some head-spinning developments in the Eastern Mediterranean in the last few days.In fact, the world and especially the riparian states are closely following these "events," which could also be named "belated decisions from Turkey."One of these states is Israel, which has been for a long time looking for ways to transport to Europe the natural gas that will be gathered from the hydrocarbon fields in the Eastern Mediterranean.After a long period of political distance, Turkey and Israel signed a normalization deal in June 2016 to cooperate on a pipeline project, to transfer natural gas f…
(2019-12-21). EU companies legally doing business mustn't be targeted by any sanctions – European Commission on US move against Nord Stream 2. rt.com 
EU states are against any sanctions targeting its companies legally doing business, the EU Commission said, after the US rolled out a package of penalties against firms participating in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project. | "At the moment, the [European] Commission is studying the potential impact of these measures on European companies," a spokesperson for the EU body was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies. | Brussels opposes sanctions that affect European firms doing business according to the law, the official stressed. The statement comes just a day after US sanctions — meant to hamper construct…
(2019-12-21). Large-scale local narco-terror op launched in SE Turkey. yenisafak.com Interior Ministry on Saturday said a narco-terror operation was launched in the southeastern Diyarbakir province of Turkey, with the participation of hundreds of security personnel.Operation "Kiran-11 Narco-Terror" seeks to hinder the PKK's winter preparations, neutralize its terrorists based in the region, arrest drug dealers and eliminate its financial sources.A total of 1,260 personnel — including the special gendarmerie, police forces, and local security personnel — participate in the operation.Turkey has been fighting narcoterrorism, and this year confiscated over 40 tons of marijuana and seized about 40 m…
(2019-12-21). The escalating fight over racist monuments in Southern communities. zcomm.org The Southern Poverty Law Center currently estimates that more than 1,700 "publicly sponsored symbols" of the Confederacy remain in place nationwide, including statues, flags, official observances, and place names…
(2019-12-21). "America the Shrunken" globalresearch.ca In May of 2014, Frank Bruni wrote an article for the NYT titled 'America the Shrunken', in which he detailed what he called "the downward arc of a diminished enterprise" that was the USA, quoting friends who claimed their children …
(2019-12-21). India's freedom struggle 2.0, this time it's against fascists. peoplesdispatch.org On December 19, as part of an all India strike against discriminatory citizenship law (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), thousands protested in New Delhi's Red Fort and Mandi House. Peoples movements and left parties have called these measures as fascist. The Delhi police imposed prohibitory orders and suspended internet in various parts of Delhi on Thursday. Hundreds of protesters, both at Red Fort and Mandi House were detained by the police. Despite the police crackdown, people continued their resistance against CAA and NRC. | Protest marches were also organised across India, and according to report…
(2019-12-21). Turkish parliament approves military cooperation with Libya — report. rt.com 
Turkish lawmakers have ratified a defense and security memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Libya, state media has reported. The MoU on defense and security was hammered on November 27 between the senior government officials from two countries along with another deal on the delimitation of the maritime jurisdiction areas in the Mediterranean. The agreement outlines cooperation in defense and security, including establishing defense offices in each other's countries. The agreement also provides for training, the transfer of military hardware, and allows for joint exercises and intelligence. Ankara had signale…
(2019-12-21). ICC To Investigate Israeli Government War Crimes & UN Again Contradicts US Claims Of Iran "Proof" thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (12/20/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
(2019-12-21). Marriage Story: Noah Baumbach, self-involvement and the divorce racket. wsws.org Marriage Story, now streaming on Netflix after a brief theatrical release, is the account of a divorce between a theater director and an actress set in Los Angeles and New York.