(2024-12-25). China's NPC Standing Committee adopts law on value-added tax. ecns.cn China's top lawmakers on Wednesday voted to adopt a specific law on value-added tax, marking a major step in enforcing the principle of law-based taxation.
(2024-12-25). BRICS expands with 9 new partner countries. Now it's half of world population, 41% of global economy. geopoliticaleconomy.com 
BRICS keeps expanding, adding 9 partner countries in January 2025, after admitting 4 new members in 2024. It now makes up roughly half of the global population and more than 41% of world GDP (PPP). It's an economic powerhouse, with top producers of key commodities like oil, gas, grains, meat, and minerals.
(2024-12-25). How To Start A Free Store In Your Community. popularresistance.org If you are moved by the abundance of waste in your neighborhood, are concerned about your neighbors in need, are a fan of building and strengthening community, want to take action to reject capitalism, or just enjoy the mystery of seeing colorful displays of random items, each with a story, you're not alone! And that's great news because teamwork is the dreamwork for creating a free store or neighborhood sharing hub. Free stores are an extension of the gift economy, where all items are available to anyone at no charge.
(2024-12-25). IMF, Egypt reach deal to unlock $1.2bn to shore up strained public finances. aljazeera.com Washington-based lender says Cairo agreed to raise tax-to-revenue ratio and accelerate divestment of state-owned firms.
(2024-12-25). Taiwan struggles to reconcile climate ambitions and chip manufacturing. aljazeera.com The island's semiconductor industry represents one-quarter of GDP but is a major source of carbon emissions.
(2024-12-25). Experts mull potential impact of higher tariffs. ecns.cn Experts expressed concern over the path of U.S.-China trade ahead of Donald Trump's second term in the White House, as the president-elect has said he would impose wide tariffs on Chinese imports.
(2024-12-25). Countermeasures to safeguard China interests. ecns.cn China stands ready to take necessary countermeasures against United States' tightening export controls on the semiconductor sector, but favors a "long-term, strategic approach" to its technological rivalry with Washington.
(2024-12-25). Green energy spending to top $1 trillion by 2030. ecns.cn China's investment in its energy transition is expected to surpass $1 trillion by 2030, with a focus on enhancing energy efficiency and accelerating electrification, according to a think tank.
(2024-12-25). Shanghai records 68,000 patents. ecns.cn Shanghai has recently completed a comprehensive inventory of altogether 68,000 patents from its universities, research institutions and medical facilities, the Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration said at a media briefing on Tuesday.
(2024-12-25). Conference hailed for emphasis on reforms. ecns.cn The meeting, which set the stage for 2025 and beyond, has drawn international attention for its emphasis on domestic consumption, sectoral reforms and sustainability.
(2024-12-25). Better policy seen as driving innovation. ecns.cn More policies are expected to stimulate innovation among businesses, enabling them to cultivate unique competitive advantages in response to the intense price-focused competition prevalent in certain industries, said analysts.
(2024-12-25). Across The Middle East, The BDS Movement Is Thriving. popularresistance.org In the bustling streets of Cairo, a bold banner hangs outside the Writers' Syndicate, confronting passersby with a piercing statement: "Every pound you spend on their products returns as a bullet in your brother's back." This message critiques the economic and political ties between the listed multinational products and Israel. The visual captures the spirit of a region-wide movement, where ordinary people are transforming everyday choices into acts of defiance against forces that fuel war and perpetuate conflict.
(2024-12-25). Nigeria's celebratory 'detty December' turns sombre amid economic woes. aljazeera.com Amid high inflation and soaring costs, the monthlong annual entertainment extravaganza is taking a toll on many.
(2024-12-25). (W.E. Talk) Protectionism makes global economic environment different. ecns.cn
(2024-12-25). ICRC: "We have the chance to improve the lives of millions" icrc.org Delivered by Ms. Laetitia Courtois, Permanent Observer and Head of Delegation, UN General Assembly debate on strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including special economic assistance…
(2024-12-25). A Global Minimum Wage Would Reduce Poverty and Corporate Power. counterpunch.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 World Bank reported that "8.5 percent of the global population―almost 700 million people―live today on less than $2.15 per day," while "44 percent of the global population―around 3.5 billion people―live today on less than
(2024-12-25). How Union Democracy Builds Labor's Strike Power. popularresistance.org Scott Houldieson had some questions. He had worked at Ford's Chicago Assembly Plant, United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 551, since 1989, but in the late 2000s the company was in a financial hole following the Great Recession, and the leaders of the UAW told him and his fellow coworkers that they were going to have to give up some of the benefits that had long made auto work a good blue-collar job. | Houldieson understood that times were hard; he'd seen the quarterly reports showing gigantic losses for the company, even if it wasn't facing bankruptcy like its competitors, but something still didn't compute.
(2024-12-25). China: Humanitarian and development actors must collaborate to restore people's dignity in protracted crises. icrc.org
(2024-12-25). Greenland Hits Back As Trump Reveals Next Target After Panama Canal; Son Eric Drops 'Shopping List'. hindustantimes.com Days after Donald Trump's renewed wish for U.S. to own Greenland, Denmark has announced an increase in military spending for the gigantic island. Greenland is a semi-autonomous region with its foreign and military policy under the Danish government. Meanwhile, according to the President-Elect, it is a necessity for the U.S. to own the world's biggest island "for purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the world". Trump did not elaborate on his statement. Watch the video to know more.
(2024-12-25). Geneva: ICRC reinforces financial support to National Society Investment Alliance (NSIA). icrc.org
(2024-12-25). Madi West Nile Diocese unveils shs14 billion budget for 2025. independent.co.ug 
Madi, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The administration of Madi West Nile Diocese has unveiled a UGX 14 Billion Budget for the year 2025. This is a significant growth up from the UGX 10 Billion this ending year. According to the Diocesan administrators, the priorities for next financial year are focused on five thematic areas …
(2024-12-25). We Must Build International Solidarity Against US-China Imperial Rivalry. truthout.org Increasingly, understanding the inter-imperialist competition between the United States and China is becoming essential to understanding the dynamics of the modern capitalist system. With the goal of broadening our understanding of the dynamics at play, Ashley Smith, along with co-authors Eli Friedman, Kevin Lin, and Rosa Liu, have published China in Global Capitalism: Building International… |
(2024-12-25). SATIRE: Rand Paul Floats Elon Musk For House Speaker. theonion.com 
Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) is floating Elon Musk to be Speaker of the House after the powerful tech billionaire helped torpedo a bipartisan agreement on a short-term spending bill, a move made possible by the fact that the Constitution does not specify that the House Speaker must be a member of the chamber. What do …
(2024-12-25). Apple Is Accused Of Profiting From War Crimes In Congo. popularresistance.org By every subjective measure, Apple is one of the most successful public companies in history. Its brand perception is synonymous with innovation and its corporate ethos is to make the world a safer, more equitable place. But lofty credos can often be misleading. In the Great Lakes region of Africa, which is ground zero in the global supply chain for Big Tech, Apple appears to have betrayed its vision. The company stands accused of deceiving consumers, laundering Congolese minerals and profiting from war crimes, according to criminal complaints filed against Apple subsidiaries in France and Belgium.
(2024-12-25). How Fascism Came. popularresistance.org President-elect Donald Trump does not herald the advent of fascism. He heralds the collapse of the veneer that masked the corruption within the ruling class and their pretense of democracy. He is the symptom, not the disease. The loss of basic democratic norms began long before Trump, which paved the road to an American totalitarianism. Deindustrialization, deregulation, austerity, unchecked predatory corporations, including the health-care industry, wholesale surveillance of every American, social inequality, an electoral system that is plagued by legalized bribery, endless and futile wars, the largest prison po…
(2024-12-25). Colombian workers pleased with minimum wage hike. plenglish.com The president of the Central Unitaria Trabajadores de Colombia (CUT), Fabio Arias, said, for example, that the increase will allow Colombians to have greater purchasing power. | This, he said, considering that the real increase is more than 200,000 pesos (about 45 dollars at the current exchange rate), which means an average increase of 11% over last year. | "We have called on the central workers to reduce the wage gap that we have with the previous decisions of the neoliberal and business governments," the union leader said. | Meanwhile, the president of the Confederation of Workers of Colombia, Jhon Caicedo, e…
(2024-12-25). A Note on Trade and Inequality. counterpunch.org 
We saw millions of workers displaced in manufacturing, as our trade deficit ballooned from 1997 to 2007. Communities across the industrial heartland were devastated as the factories that supported them downsized or shut altogether. We can have lengthy debates about the motives of working-class people who switched from Democrats to Trump voters, but the fact that Democratic presidents pushed trade policies that destroyed millions of good paying jobs for non-college educated workers is not really in dispute.
(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 they enjoy elsewhere.
(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 . . . |