(2024-12-24). US-Japan steel deal goes to Biden for final decision after panel deadlocks. aljazeera.com Committee on Foreign Investment in the US fails to agree on national security risks of proposed takeover of US Steel.
(2024-12-24). Finance minister: China will implement a more proactive fiscal policy next year. ecns.cn China will implement a more proactive fiscal policy next year, with sustained and intensified efforts to deliver a well-coordinated package of measures aimed at ensuring economic stability and driving growth.
(2024-12-24). China to raise deficit-to-GDP ratio. ecns.cn China's Ministry of Finance (MOF) held a two-day national financial work conference from Monday to Tuesday, unveiling plans to implement a more proactive fiscal policy in 2025.
(2024-12-24). China to tighten antitrust oversight in sensitive sectors, foreign monopolistic practices. ecns.cn China is set to ramp up antitrust enforcement in strategically sensitive sectors such as semiconductors, new energy, and platform economy next year, so as to safeguard economic security, said the country's top market regulator.
(2024-12-24). China's GBA economic scale tops global bay economies by end of 2023: report. ecns.cn A blue book on the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) released on Monday indicates that the region's economic scale ranked top among global peers at the end of 2023.
(2024-12-24). China issues guideline to speed up the building of unified, open transportation market. ecns.cn The Chinese government released a guideline on Monday aimed at accelerating the construction of a unified and open transportation market, calling to develop general aviation and the low-altitude economy and ensure that all types of businesses in this sector are treated equally under the law.
(2024-12-24). Panda bonds roar back to life in China. ecns.cn The panda bond market posted record-high issuances by value this year and is poised to attract new issuers, including those from the Middle East and Latin America, in 2025…
(2024-12-24). Water Over Gold: 15 Reasons Why El Salvador Should Again Reject Gold Mining. ips-dc.org 
Bukele's reversal today of the mining ban aggravates environmental risks already posed by his extractive economic agenda, will increase El Salvador's risk of environmental contamination, human rights violations, and public health concerns, and will have an adverse economic impact.
(2024-12-24). BRICS: Transactions in National Currencies, Cross Border Payment Systems and a New Reserve Currency. infobrics.org The goal of a society of equal opportunities has many sides to it. This paper will address international economic dimensions, and more specifically the issue of how BRICS and other developing countries can deal with the glaring inequities and deficiencies of the current monetary and financial system, writes Paulo Nogueira Batista Jr.
(2024-12-24). Maile conducts shop inspection blitz. sanews.gov.za Maile conducts shop inspection blitz | Gauteng MEC for Finance and Economic Development, Lebogang Maile, says government will continue to clamp down on non-compliant spaza shops and food-handling facilities in the province. | The MEC conducted a compliance blitz in Soweto on Monday aimed at inspecting spaza shops and other establishments selling food. | This follows a directive issued by President Cyril Ramaphosa last month, that all spaza shops and food-handling facilities must be registered with their respective municipalities, after a surge in reported cases of foodborne illnesses in the country. | "Government…
(2024-12-24). The Economic Contributions of John Kenneth Galbraith. indybay.org J.K.Galbraith emphasized that the large firm dominates prices and distorts markets. The impairment of sovereignty — the accommodation of the state to the purposes and needs | of the corporate techno-structure — is the very essence of the operations of the planning system (Galbraith, 1973a, p. 188).
(2024-12-24). A Global Minimum Wage Would Reduce Poverty and Corporate Power. fpif.org In today's world of widespread poverty and unprecedented wealth, how about raising the wages of the most poorly-paid workers? | This October, the In early 2024, the charit…
(2024-12-24). Commission to probe access to capital for low- and middle-income countries. sanews.gov.za Commission to probe access to capital for low- and middle-income countries | A Cost of Capital Commission which will investigate issues that impair the ability of low- and middle-income countries to access affordable capital is set to be launched under South Africa's G20 Presidency, said International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola. | | "I wish to take this opportunity to announce that under South Africa's G20 Presidency, an ambitious Cost of Capital Commission will be established to investigate the issues that impair the ability of low- and middle-income countries to access sufficient, affordabl…
(2024-12-24). Canada Post workers denounce union complicity in enforcing Liberal government's strike ban. wsws.org After a month-long strike by 55,000 workers, CUPW and the Canadian Labour Congress capitulated without a fight to Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon's order to ban the job action, without any of the workers' demands for real wage increases, job security, and workers' control over the use of new technologies being met.
(2024-12-24). Minister of Gender warns artistes against vulgarity. independent.co.ug 
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development has warned artistes against using foul language or risk being banned. Speaking to journalists at the Uganda Media Centre on Monday, Betty Amongi, said her ministry will not look away when artistes are using obscene language that is capable of corrupting societal …
(2024-12-24). The Israeli woman who made Cavalli a fashion star. haaretz.com Tamara Yovel Jones, who died last week at the age of 79, changed the face of Israeli fashion; her collaborations with Roberto Cavalli over many years impacted generations of fashion designers…
(2024-12-24). Citing judicial overhaul, Tel Aviv University senior faculty declare labor dispute. haaretz.com The union argued that the proposed bills will weaken the powers of those 'responsible for protecting the rule of law.' The 1,300-member union also warned against bills enabling sanctioning and dismissal of faculty, claiming they infringe on academic freedom…
(2024-12-24). Australian Labor government quietly acknowledges likely COVID holiday surge, but no public health measures. wsws.org Entering the sixth year of the pandemic, Australian governments continue to maintain a "let it rip" policy, amid rising infection numbers.
(2024-12-24). Philippines' introduction of U.S. Typhon mid-range missile system a provocative and dangerous move. ecns.cn Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated at a regular press conference on Monday that the Chinese side has repeatedly elaborated its solemn stance of firm opposition on the U.S.' deployment of mid-range missiles in the Philippines.
(2024-12-24). It was the rage of the age. nationofchange.org Was Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, a private research facility in Suffolk County, pivotal to the spread of eugenics through the United States and world?>
(2024-12-24). UNBS raises alarm over insufficient funding. independent.co.ug 
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has raised concerns over inadequate funding that hinders its operational activities and compromises its mandate. Speaking during a meeting with the Parliamentary Committee on Trade, Industry, and Tourism at the UNBS headquarters in Mbalwa, Bweyogerere, Deus Mubangizi, the Manager of National Metrology Laboratories …
(2024-12-24). Moscú revela las actividades de laboratorios biológicos estadounidenses en àÅfrica y alerta sobre sus riesgos. cubadebate.cu El mayor general Alexéi Rtíschev, jefe adjunto de las Tropas de Defensa Radiológica, Química y Biológica de Rusia, denunció este martes que Estados Unidos considera àÅfrica como "un reservorio natural ilimitado de agentes infecciosos y un polígono de pruebas para medicamentos experimentales". Según el alto mando ruso, Washington ha creado un sistema para gestionar riesgos biológicos en otros países.
(2024-12-24). Inside the country's first official safe drug consumption site. nationofchange.org An overdose prevention site in New York City continues its research-backed, lifesaving work.
(2024-12-24). Diario indio: Si EE.UU. elimina bloqueo sería paso histórico con Cuba. radiohc.cu La Habana, 24 dic (RHC) El diario indio Financial Express aseguró que si Estados Unidos elimina a Cuba de la lista de países terroristas y desmantela el bloqueo sería un paso histórico hacia la reconciliación entre las dos naciones.
(2024-12-24). Festive Season: Nebbi traders complain of low sales. independent.co.ug 
Nebbi, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | As the Christmas celebrations draw near, traders in Nebbi District are counting losses due to a low turnout of buyers, which they attribute to poor harvests and financial strain among farmers. Traditionally, the festive season boosts sales, but this year, many traders are experiencing a stark decline in business. …
(2024-12-24). Exploring BRICS and Global Governance. infobrics.org BRICS represents 45 percent of the world population and 37 percent of the global GDP, while the West represents 10 percent of the world population and 28 percent of the global GDP…
(2024-12-24). The Dubai Gold Visa: Unlocking Opportunities for Entrepreneurs and Investors in the UAE. thecanary.co The Dubai Gold Visa program has become a sought-after immigration option for entrepreneurs, investors, and skilled professionals looking to establish long-term residency in the UAE. With its many benefits, the Gold Visa is designed to attract global talent, foster business growth, and encourage investment in the Dubai market. In this article, we will explore the […] | By
(2024-12-24). Building collapse tied to unsafe practices by builders. ecns.cn The collapse of a factory building in Anhui province in June that killed five has been traced primarily to the failure of the construction team to follow safety regulations, which created hazards on the factory's second floor.
(2024-12-24). Report to New York City-area rally exposes role of Danish shipping giant Maersk in Gaza genocide. wsws.org The rally offered valuable information on the role played by the Danish shipping conglomerate Maersk in the genocide in Gaza, but proposed no policies to mobilize dockworkers against capitalism and war.
(2024-12-24). How sunlight and vitamin D can help with mental illness. expose-news.com Vitamin D receptors exist throughout your brain, affecting mental health by regulating neurotransmitters and reducing inflammation. Deficiency is linked to depression, anxiety and psychosis. Mental health patients show higher rates of vitamin …
(2024-12-24). Transcript of NewsX 'debate' with Team Zelensky. gilbertdoctorow.com Transcript submitted by a reader NewsX Anchor, Joshua Barnes: 1: 57Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed a swift retaliation following a Ukrainian drone strike in Kazan, Tatarstan, that damaged, attacked residential buildings and an industrial facility. Though officials reported no casualties, Putin warned that attempts to destroy Russia would be met with multiple times more destruction. …
(2024-12-24). La rinascita dell'industria dei fertilizzanti in Brasile. strategic-culture.su Dato il ruolo predominante dell'agricoltura nell'economia brasiliana, è chiaro che i fertilizzanti sono diventati una risorsa strategica da cui dipende il paese. | Segue nostro Il lungo e doloroso processo di deindustrializzazione del Brasile, iniziato negli anni '80, unito ai prezzi favorevoli delle materie prime, ha fatto sਠche nel 2021, per la prima volta dopo decenni, il settore primario (agricoltura e miniere) rappresentasse u…
(2024-12-24). Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy sentenced to three years in prison. wsws.org The sentencing of the former head of state on charges of corrupting the judiciary exposes the degeneracy of the French Fifth Republic and the bankruptcy of the capitalist regime.
(2024-12-24). El Salvador remains committed to bitcoin. plenglish.com In recent days, after reaching 108,000 dollars per unit, the digital asset lost value and was quoted below 100,000 dollars. | However, on Sunday, the Government of El Salvador announced the purchase of 12 units of the asset to continue its policy of acquiring at least one daily. | The drop registered over the past few days is the first since President-elect Donald Trump won the elections in the United States. On December 11, the "token" began a rise that led it to reach 108,135 dollars on December 17, the highest price in its history, but in recent days its value fluctuated between 94,000 and 99,000 dollars. | A…
(2024-12-24). Teamsters bureaucrats block socialists, but welcome Democrats to Amazon picket line. wsws.org The Teamsters bureaucrats will not organize a wider struggle because they are not interested in taking the fight to Amazon on behalf of workers everywhere, but in establishing the same corrupt relations with Amazon management it enjoys elsewhere.
(2024-12-24). Pabloite NPA hails pro-business Umbrella for Democratic Change's election victory in Botswana. wsws.org Amid growing protests and political dissatisfaction across southern Africa, the NPA is intervening to promote right-wing bourgeois parties and thus block a broader, united offensive in the working class for socialism.
(2024-12-24). Communists do not give up! Better death than dishonor! workers.org 
Alexander and Mikhail Kononovich. Letter to Workers World from Mikhail Kononovich and Alexander Kononovich. Translation by Steve Gillis. Dear comrades, We would like to first draw your attention, comrades, to the fact that we, communists and anti-fascists, brothers Mikhail Kononovich and Alexander Kononovich, were arrested for our many years of . . . |
(2024-12-23). US military supported Syrian rebel offensive that toppled Assad government. geopoliticaleconomy.com Syrian rebel commanders admitted that the US military helped them overthrow the government of Bashar al-Assad. NATO member Turkey and Israel played key roles as well.
(2024-12-23). Xi's insights on boosting growth of private enterprises. ecns.cn The private economy is a driving force in helping advance Chinese modernization. President Xi Jinping has always placed great importance on the development of the private economy, making multiple key instructions and inspecting private enterprises to boost confidence in the sector's development.
(2024-12-23). Cubans March Against The US Blockade. popularresistance.org "President Biden, take Cuba off the infamous list!" exclaimed the over half a million Cubans who marched on Havana's malecón to the US Embassy. The mass march was called for by Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel earlier this week to demonstrate the absolute and total rejection of the Cuban people to the six-decade US-imposed blockade on the island as well as the inclusion of Cuba to the US State Sponsors of Terrorism list (SSoT) which together have wreaked havoc on the island's economy. | The march was led by Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and General Raúl Castro who were flanked by over half a million Cubans f…
(2024-12-23). US economy: an exceptional boom or a bubble to burst? cadtm.org
(2024-12-23). From Trump to Bitcoin, inflation and China: the big economic trends of 2024. aljazeera.com Economic issues, particularly living costs, were front and centre in 2024 as some 2 billion people went to the polls.
(2024-12-23). Breaking: UK economy did not grow at all under Labour from July-Sep, revised figures show. skwawkbox.org 
New data show even tiny growth suggested earlier was a mirage The UK economy flatlined under Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves's policies from July — when they took office — to September, according to revised figures issued this morning. The UK is on the verge of recession now, but the government had been clinging to …
(2024-12-23). Beijing's green efforts to benefit world. ecns.cn China's further development of the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and the country's pursuit of green transition in economic growth model will benefit the world, especially the development in Africa.
(2024-12-23). Ground prepared for China's steady growth. ecns.cn China's steadfast commitment to addressing dynamic risks in crucial sectors is paving the way for steady growth in the coming year, according to economists.
(2024-12-23). China steps up fiscal support for disaster prevention, mitigation, emergency management. ecns.cn China has stepped up fiscal support for disaster prevention and mitigation and emergency management, with the general public budget expenditure on the effort increasing by 8.85 percent on average over the past five years.
(2024-12-23). Political Economy Contradictions as We Lurch Into 2025. counterpunch.org 
The Republicans (GOP), traditionally the U.S.'s anti-tax party, now promise to use tariffs to wage trade wars, to massively deport immigrants, and to stop drug traffic. But tariffs are simply the name of one kind of tax (on imported goods and services). So the GOP becomes both anti-tax and pro-tax. Likewise, the traditional party of minimal government, today's GOP now favors massive subsidies to industries that big government will select as well as economic sanctions and bans on enterprises and whole countries that big government will select. Beyond the right-wing ideology and financial self-serving, Trump reflec…
(2024-12-23). Political economy contradictions as we lurch into 2025. nationofchange.org Multiple, intense, and persistent contradictions within both parties suggest that some underlying, historic shifts may be underway.
(2024-12-23). Why Are 14 Million Children Hungry in America: The World's Richest Country with the Biggest Economic Advantages. globalresearch.ca There are nearly 14 million children in the USA who suffer from food insecurity and hunger, or about one in five. During the peak of the COVID crisis this had come close to about 18 million (see The Conversation discussion …
(2024-12-23). Presidents of UAE and Belarus discuss strengthening countries' trade and economic ties. tvbrics.com 
They also exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues…
(2024-12-23). Venezuela leads Latin America in economic growth in 2024. tvbrics.com 
Regional growth is expected to reach 2.4 per cent in 2025…
(2024-12-23). Across the Middle East, the BDS movement is thriving. wagingnonviolence.org 
This article Nowhere is the power of BDS more evident than in the Middle East, where shared regional solidarity and strategic economic pressure have turned the movement into a powerful force. | This article
(2024-12-23). BRICS + NDB Aims for More Inclusive, Sustainable, Resilient & World. infobrics.org The New Development Bank (NDB), aligned with BRICS, aims for a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable world, presenting member nations with equitable and accessible economic opportunities, Russian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Evgeny Terekhin said…
(2024-12-23). US seeks global energy domination as EU energy markets face collapse. thesiriusreport.com 
We assess why claims about new energy pipelines in the Middle East are incorrect and also assess why the European energy markets are facing collapse.
(2024-12-23). State Labor Department Releases Preliminary November 2024 Area Unemployment Rates. urbancny.com 
The New York State Department of Labor today released preliminary local area unemployment rates for November 2024. Rates are calculated using methods prescribed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The State's area unemployment rates rely in part on the results of the Current Population Survey, which contacts approximately 3,100 households in New York State each month. To recap last week's statewide press release, New York State's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held constant at 4.4% in November 2024. Local Area Unemployment Rates* (%) November 2023 and November 2024(Not seasonally adjusted) The data in…
(2024-12-23). Finance: Average Ugandan to earn shs4.9m by mid 2026. independent.co.ug 
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The government has a spending plan that should ensure an average Ugandan earns 1,338.7 US Dollars or 4.9 million shillings per year by the end of 2025/2026. Currently, the per capita income of Uganda stands at 1,046 dollars (3.85 million shillings) as at the end of June 2024, according to …
(2024-12-23). 'Fiscal Nimbyism Makes It Far Harder to Fix Public Services'. bylinetimes.com To stay ahead of the curve, One of the factors which brought Labour to power was the widespread sense under the last Conservative Government that 'nothing works any more', especially when it comes to public services. It carried the implication not just that government spending needed to increase, but also that it needed to be better targeted. | It's possible, of course, to argue that Labour's entire framing of fiscal policy is wrong and that Keir Starmer's Government should substantially raise general taxation and also borrow more freely. But the…
(2024-12-23). No More Research For Genocide At MIT. popularresistance.org On November 7th, we published an op-ed titled "Daniela Rus, The People Demand: No More Research for Genocide" in the MIT Tech. Our piece detailed how Prof. Daniela Rus, director of MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, uses Israeli Ministry of Defense money to develop algorithms with applications in "multirobot security defense and surveillance." Rather than engage with these publicly verifiable facts, the Tech's editorial board (under the guidance of Prof. Rus) retracted our op-ed. | MIT sent several of us "no contact" and "no harassment" orders for Prof. Rus, disciplining one student fo…
(2024-12-23). Interviews With Amazon Workers Organizing A Historic Strike. popularresistance.org Amazon workers at a number of facilities across the country recently began a historic strike, leveraging the breakneck pace of the holiday season to launch a struggle against the company that has become the face of modern exploitation. This is the first national strike against Amazon, the second largest company in the world, and the largest action so far against the employer. Less than four years ago, Amazon workers at the JFK8 facility in New York set the stage for the strike after forming the Amazon Labor Union (ALU) and inspiring a wave of unionizations across the country.
(2024-12-23). Mayor of NYC: 500,00 Missing Children! The True Pandemic Nobody Is Fighting. globalresearch.ca New York City (NYC) Mayor Eric Adams proclaims that 500,000 unaccompanied immigrant children are missing [in the US alone]; that they have been handed over to unvetted "sponsors" who may — and probably will — abuse them as sex-slaves, child-labor …
(2024-12-23). Australian rail union offers to shut down industrial action. wsws.org The Rail, Tram and Bus Union promised to give the New South Wales Labor government exactly what it wanted while workers received nothing in exchange.
(2024-12-23). Cultural leaders join hands to promote girl child education. independent.co.ug 
Hoima, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Cultural leaders are coming together to promote girl child education and retention in schools. As the world observes the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, Prime Ministers from Tooro, Bunyoro Kitara, Alur Kingdoms, Iteso Cultural Union, Obwenengo bwa Bugwe, Buruli Cultural Institution, and others have pledged to collaborate with …
(2024-12-23). Punto Deportivo: Torneos que marcaron el deporte cubano en 2024 (II) (+ Video). cubadebate.cu En esta entrega del Punto Deportivo continuamos con la serie de programas dedicados a hitos y torneos que marcaron el deporte cubano en 2024. El colega de Trabajadores y habitual colaborador de Cubadebate, Joel García, nos acerca al Premier 12, certamen del cual hizo la cobertura periodística.
(2024-12-23). Ghastly Glimpses Of America's Most Rich-People-Friendly Year. popularresistance.org The good times — for America's super wealthy — are now rolling way past good. Our richest have in 2024 enjoyed their best year ever. No other nation's deepest pockets have watched their fortunes grow as large or as fast. | Elon Musk, of course, perfectly embodies this unprecedented surge in the personal wealth of America's wealthiest. Musk has entered 2024's last two weeks with a net worth spilling past $450 billion, nearly half a trillion dollars. Over the last 12 months, the Bloomberg Billionaires Index neatly notes, Musk's wealth has doubled.
(2024-12-23). Report: UAW made secret deal for unionization of EV company Rivian based on profitability. wsws.org The Rivian deal explicitly ties the interests of the UAW apparatus to the profit interests of the company's wealthy shareholders.
(2024-12-23). Cochlear implants now significantly cheaper. ecns.cn China has significantly reduced the cost of cochlear implants through its first centralized procurement program, cutting prices from more than 200,000 yuan ($27,400) to around 50,000 yuan.
(2024-12-23). As Germany's Energy Crisis Heightens, Two Brief Windless Periods Pushes Grid To The Limit! wattsupwiththat.com It is also often forgotten that wind turbines consume electricity when they are stationary or switched off. This is because all technical components (oil pumps, fans, control systems, etc.) must remain in operation even when they are still. Vestas specifies an electricity consumption of 55,000 kWh per year for a 4.2 MW turbine at standstill. During production times, the turbine supplies itself with electricity. But it is virtually idle 120 days a year.
(2024-12-23). Cancer Treatments Nullified, Eyes Wrecked by Ozempic: Studies. globalresearch.ca Ozempic to 'Transform' the World by 2030, Gushes Preeminent Journal of The Science‚Ñ¢ : | Via "Welcome to the healthier, happier world of 2030. Heart attacks and strokes are down 20%. A drop in food consumption has …
(2024-12-23). Wisconsin judge strikes down Act 10, the law behind mass 2011 protests. wsws.org Act 10 stripped public sector employees in the state of their collective bargaining rights, allowing them to bargain only over wages—with increases capped at the rate of inflation—while prohibiting negotiations for improved safety, benefits, and working conditions.
(2024-12-23). U.S. Media Ignored How CIA's Operation Timber Sycamore Paved the Way For the Syrian "Revolution" covertactionmagazine.com Part of a pattern of media omissions and deception in its coverage of Syria On December 8, 2024, Syria's long-standing ruler Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia after being deposed by Sunni militia forces in what New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman called the "biggest…most game-changing event in the Middle East in the last 45 …
(2024-12-23). Fire at Jerusalem seminary for Haredi girls wounds 48, including three in serious condition. haaretz.com Shmulik Friedman, commander of Fire and Rescue Services in Jerusalem, called the fire at the boarding school for ultra-Orthodox girls a 'huge event with many casualties'…
(2024-12-23). War Industry Destroys Our Lives. Manlio Dinucci. globalresearch.ca While the car crisis, aggravated by further US protectionist measures, puts 40,000 jobs at risk in Italy, and Italy's public debt has climbed to 139% of GDP and is still rising, Italy's military spending continues to grow: according to official …
(2024-12-23). Headlines for December 23, 2024. democracynow.org Biden Commutes Sentences of 37 Men on Federal Death Row, UNRWA Warns "World Must Not Become Numb" to Israel's Escalating Attacks on Gaza, Doctor at Kamal Adwan Decries Israeli Attacks on Hospital in Northern Gaza, "This Is Cruelty. This Is Not War." Pope Francis Condemns Israel on Gaza, Syria: Diplomats from U.S., Turkey, Jordan and Qatar Meet with HTS Leader, Congress Passes Spending Bill to Avert Government Shutdown, House Ethics Report Finds Gaetz Committed Statutory Rape, Panama Rejects Trump's Threat to Retake Panama Canal, Trump Says U.S. Ownership of Greenland Is "…
(2024-12-23). Elon Musk's Opposition to Gov't Spending Bill a "Smokescreen" for His Business Interests: Robert Kuttner. democracynow.org 
After the Republican-led Congress passes a government spending bill but rejects a last-minute demand for a debt limit suspension from President-elect Donald Trump and his billionaire adviser Elon Musk, we look at the richest man in the world's growing influence, with The American Prospect editor Robert Kuttner. "At the end of the day, Musk got exactly what he wanted," says Kuttner, referring to Musk's influence in the removal of an anti-China trade provision in the bill. "It's a classic case of Musk rolling Trump. … I don't think this is going to end well."…
(2024-12-23). Fixing the Media and Campaign Spending by the Rich. counterpunch.org 
Virtually everyone, except Elon Musk, agrees that the rich have too much political power these days. When a single individual can put tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars behind their favored candidate, it seriously distorts democracy. Unfortunately, there are few serious strategies for addressing this problem. Given the Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens
(2024-12-23). Trump's Debt Ceiling Power Play Is a Prelude to the Congressional Chaos to Come. truthout.org With hours left before the U.S. government was slated to run out of money last week, Elon Musk and Donald Trump took to social media to strong-arm the House GOP into abandoning a bipartisan deal to keep the government open. Musk — who has taken to behaving like an unelected potentate — aimed a barrage of postings at GOP Congress members who were thinking of voting for the short-term spending… |
(2024-12-23). The socialist attitude to the tragedy of Luigi Mangione. wsws.org The basic task of our time is the expropriation of United Healthcare and other major corporations by the working class in a socialist revolution, not "vengeance" against individual executives. Marxists oppose individual violence because it runs directly counter to this, replacing the action of the class with the action of desperate, angry individuals.
(2024-12-23). Resident physicians protest conditions at Detroit Medical Center. wsws.org Resident physicians who recently voted to unionized are battling Tenet Healthcare to win better wages and working conditions…
(2024-12-23). To the People of Cuba: Is Washington Preparing a "Soft Coup"? The Co-optation of Cuban Intellectuals. globalresearch.ca The Cuban Revolution constitutes a fundamental landmark in the history of humanity, which challenges the legitimacy of global capitalism. In all major regions of the World, the Cuban revolution has been a source of inspiration and struggle…
(2024-12-23). The Strike at Kaiser Permanente: California Mental Healthcare Workers Demand Parity. counterpunch.org 
The extraordinary thing about this strike is that it really is a strike for patients and for the public's health, a strike for mental health care parity, a strike in a time of acute mental healthcare crisis in this country. Perhaps never before has depression and anxiety and increasingly suicide reached into the lives of so many people and their families. This strike is about equity in behavioral health care. The strikers have told me this time and again. They insist they would rather be with their patients, not on a picket line, but they can't keep working in a system that treats mental health workers like autom…
(2024-12-23). The Role of Vitamin D Deficiency in Mental Illness. globalresearch.ca Vitamin D receptors exist throughout your brain, affecting mental health by regulating neurotransmitters and reducing inflammation. Deficiency is linked to depression, anxiety and psychosis | Mental health patients show higher rates of vitamin D deficiency, caused by reduced sun exposure, obesity …
(2024-12-23). 'BRICS Set to Bring More Opportunities and Competition'. infobrics.org Malaysia should capitalise on the growth opportunities presented by BRICS while addressing the challenges ahead to enhance its competitiveness on the global stage, say industrialists…
(2024-12-23). Exclusive: Unite union staff branch passes unanimous motion condemning union's abuse of striking workers. skwawkbox.org 
Members of Unite LE 128 branch, which represents staff working in other unions, condemn their own union for its anti-worker tactics The Unite union and its general secretary Sharon Graham are embroiled in an industrial dispute with staff who claim her husband, who was promoted to a senior position shortly after she took over the …
(2024-12-23). In Florida, officials and communities clash over where to build the nation's largest trash incinerator. grist.org 
When leaders of Florida's most populous county met in September to pick a site for what could become the nation's largest trash incinerator, so many people went to the government center to protest that overflow seating spilled into the building's atrium. | "MIRAMAR SAYS NO TO INCINERATOR! NOT IN OUR BACKYARD," read green T-shirts donned by some attendees who wanted to stop the new industrial waste facility — capable of burning up to 4,000 tons of garbage a day — from being built near their homes. | Residents feared the site would not only sink their property values and threaten the environment, but…
(2024-12-23). Officials denounce alien land laws for racial bias. ecns.cn The series of new legislations in various US states restricting land purchases by Chinese citizens are racially biased and harming Asian Americans, say two Chinese American elected officials.
(2024-12-23). French fascists attack NFP leader Mélenchon's house. wsws.org The Parti de l'égalité socialiste condemns the the fascist threats against Mélenchon, which also target millions of workers and youth who voted for him, hoping for a more left-wing policy.
(2024-12-23). Rallies in Paris, Berlin and Cologne show growing opposition to the war in Ukraine. wsws.org It is necessary to focus this opposition on the working class and to arm it with an international socialist perspective, independent of the imperialist powers of NATO as well as the capitalist regimes in Ukraine and Russia.
(2024-12-23). Cuban President salutes Foreign Service anniversary. plenglish.com In his profile on the social network X, the president ratified the country's confidence in their work, and conveyed deep recognition for a meritorious and effective service record, which fills the people with pride and exalts the name of Cuba in every corner of the world. | Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez also celebrated the date on X and recalled that during these years Cuban diplomacy has defended the Homeland, the Revolution and Socialism with commitment, discipline and unity. | We congratulate all those who have contributed to the legacy of Minrex, he said. The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs was establish…
(2024-12-23). Donald Trump and Education for Acquiescence. socialistproject.ca 
(2024-12-23). South African CP makes major election pivot. cpusa.org 
The South African Communist Party (SACP), a longtime ally of the governing African National Congress (ANC) has decided to contest the 2026 local government elections in its own name. | The move, confirmed at the mid-December Special National Congress of the SACP, marks a resolute break with the ANC. This was prompted by the latter's decision to
(2024-12-23). Xi stresses progress in advancing 'one country, two systems' at Macao SAR anniversary celebration, new gov't inauguration. ecns.cn A meeting to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland and the inaugural ceremony of the sixth-term government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) was held at the Macao East Asian Games Dome Friday morning. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the meeting and delivered an important speech.