(2021-12-16). Ukraine, Turkey, Azerbaijan form pan-Turkic bloc against Russia in Crimea. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Zelensky invites President of Azerbaijan to host Kyiv-Ankara-Baku summit in Feb During his working visit to Brussels, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky met with President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, during which they discussed issues of enhancing bilateral cooperation between the countries… It is noted that Zelensky thanked Aliyev for supporting the sovereignty …
(2021-12-16). US Congress approves massive $770 billion war budget. wsws.org The strategic orientation of the huge military bill is to prepare for war against Russia, China or both. Coupled with Tuesday's vote to raise the debt ceiling, congressional Democrats have satisfied their two main constituencies: the Pentagon and Wall Street.
(2021-12-16). Afghanistan's Labyrinth of Opportunity. journal-neo.org 
Four months after the withdrawal of the US and NATO troops from Afghanistan, the Taliban (movement is banned in the Russian Federation) attempts to shape the country on their image, despite the lack of recognition. Nevertheless, they have complete freedom from their neighbors to do whatever they want. They do not officially interfere but try …
(2021-12-16). China-Russia cooperation contributes to world peace, stability. ecns.cn Following the video meeting on Wednesday between the leaders of China and Russia, experts shared their views on China-Russia cooperation, saying that their relations play an important role in sustaining world peace and stability.
(2021-12-16). UN organization confirms hottest Arctic temperature. ecns.cn The World Meteorological Organization has officially recognized a new Arctic temperature record of 38 C in the Russian town of Verkhoyansk, and the agency says it is investigating an unprecedented number of additional extreme weather events that it links to climate change.
(2021-12-16). 89-10: Senate sends record-high $768 billion war budget authorization to White House. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com The Senate vote was 89-10.The House vote was 363-70.It's the highest-ever Pentagon budget in current dollars and the largest since World War II in constant dollars. Russian military spending for 2020 was an estimated $61.7 billion, less than 1/12 of next year's U.S. defense spending. Senate Passes $768 Billion Defense Bill, Sending It to Biden …
(2021-12-16). The Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty (TPNW): Wishful daydream or historic milestone? moderndiplomacy.eu The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), adopted in 2017, has entered into force on the 22nd of January of this year and the number of ratifying states continues to grow, with Mongolia being the latest to announce its accession. This positive trend is certainly welcomed with enthusiasm by the Civil Society campaigners …
(2021-12-16). 38‚ÑÉ record Arctic temperature confirmed, others likely to follow. moderndiplomacy.eu A new and disturbing high temperature record for the Arctic of 38 degrees Celsius, or just over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, was confirmed by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on Tuesday. Worryingly, the temperature reading taken last June in the Siberian town of Verkhoyansk — which is located 115 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle — …
(2021-12-15). Putin hails Russia-China ties as paradigm of int'l relations in 21st century. ecns.cn Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Russia-China relations are a paradigm of international relations in the 21st century.
(2021-12-15). There is no alternative to JCPOA: Russia UN envoy. en.mehrnews.com Emphasizing that there is no alternative to the JCPOA, Russian First Deputy Permanent Representative to UN Russia views as dangerous and irresponsible attempts to portray JCPOA on Iran's nuclear program as outdated.
(2021-12-15). Crunch time coming after Biden-Putin meet. asiatimes.com 
Moscow is reiterating its "red lines," seeking long-term legal guarantees against NATO's further advancement to the east and the deployment of weapons on Russia's western borders. The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on December 10, putting on record its expectation that long-term legal guarantees must be given "within a specific timeframe and on the …
(2021-12-15). 37 military offices, wars in Ethiopia, Libya, Western Sahara: Turkey edges Russia out of African arms market. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Armed with drones, Turkey explores African arms sales Armed with battle-tested drones, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been deepening defence ties with African countries ahead of a major gathering of the continent's leaders in Istanbul. The two-day Turkey-Africa partnership summit starting Friday comes fast on the heels of a top-level business forum in October …
(2021-12-15). Biden's 'Summit for Democracy' is a vile circus for new Cold War. nationofchange.org The biggest enemy of the basic democratic rights is the U.S. government—and yet we have this Biden conference declaring support for democracy.
(2021-12-15). Headlines for December 15, 2021. democracynow.org U.S. Tops 800,000 COVID Deaths as Officials Around the World Warn of Omicron's Rapid Spread, House Votes to Hold Mark Meadows in Contempt; D.C. Sues Oath Keepers, Proud Boys over Insurrection, Judge Dismisses Trump Attempt to Shield Tax Docs from House; NY Probe into Trump Org. Continues, Another GOP Rep. Attacks Ilhan Omar as House Passes Anti-Islamophobia Bill, Congress Votes to Increase Debt Ceiling by $2.5 Trillion, Averting Default, UAE Suspends Talks with U.S. on $23 Billion Arms Sale, Presidents Putin and Xi Meet Amid Mounting Tensions with U.S., Belarusian Opposition Leader Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison…
(2021-12-15). U.S. Cold War with China: First Stop, Equatorial Guinea. fpif.org In the first Cold War, the Last week's Democracy Summit,
(2021-12-15). Russia And Israel — A Double Standard In International Condemnation. popularresistance.org Over the past month, in a break from its usual focus on COVID-19, the Western mainstream media has dedicated a sizeable amount of coverage to unverified claims by unnamed US intelligence officials that the Russian Federation is planning an imminent military invasion of its western neighbour Ukraine — under the rule of the successive US-EU friendly governments of Petro Poroshenko and Volodymyr Zelensky since 2014, when the CIA-orchestrated Euromaidan colour revolution toppled the pro-Russian government of Viktor Yanukovych, following his November 2013 decision to suspend an EU trade deal in favour of pursuin…
(2021-12-15). China, Russia to expedite cooperation on cutting-edge technologies: Xi. ecns.cn Xi Jinping said Wednesday that China and Russia should take the opportunities brought by the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, and expedite industrial cooperation on cutting-edge technologies.
(2021-12-15). Venezuela Receives more than 1.5 Million Sputnik Light Doses from Russia. orinocotribune.com 
On Monday, December 13, Venezuela received another shipment of Sputnik Light vaccine doses from the Russian Federation, which will be used in the Venezuelan government's mass vaccination program against COVID-19. | The new batch consists of more than 1.5 million Sputnik Light doses, which will be used as booster jabs for the elderly population in Venezuela. | The Deputy Minister of Resources, Technology and Regulation, which is under the Ministry of Health, Gerardo Briceño, received the shipment at the Maiquetía international airport. While at the airport, he informed that the supply coming in from Russia will re…
(2021-12-15). U.S. Congress passes $740 billion military bill to confront China and Russia. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com From Defense News. Congress passes defense policy bill with budget boost, military justice reforms "It addresses a broad range of pressing issues, from strategic competition with China and Russia, to disruptive technologies like hypersonics, [artificial intelligence], and quantum computing, to modernizing our ships, aircraft, and vehicles," Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed, D-R.I., said. …
(2021-12-15). JCPOA members, US hold meeting to discuss talks' acceleration. en.mehrnews.com Russian representative in Vienna talks said that JCPOA participants, without Iran, and the US held a meeting on Tuesday to exchange views on how best to proceed in order to expedite the Vienna talks.
(2021-12-15). Putin-Biden Meeting Promises No Change to US Hypocrisy. journal-neo.org 
This past week saw the electronic meeting of Russia's president Vladimir Putin and United States president Joe Biden. It was billed as a head to head meeting of two of the world's most powerful political figures. In fact, Biden was supported by four of his top aides in foreign affairs. Their precise role was unclear. …
(2021-12-15). Russia anticipates new COVID surge, even as deaths remain at record highs. wsws.org The country continues to experience extremely high daily COVID-19 infections and death, as the spread of the Omicron variant threatens yet another spike.
(2021-12-15). Interview With Iran's Chief Nuclear Deal Negotiator Dr. Ali Bagheri. popularresistance.org Richard Medhurst sits down with Iran's chief negotiator Dr. Ali Bagheri for an exclusive interview during the 7th round of Vienna talks. | Medhurst and Bagheri discuss how the talks are progressing, Iran's recent draft proposals, threats and intimidation by Israel, and whether Iran can trust the Americans not to break the deal again.
(2021-12-15). 'Additional effort and patience' needed to revive Iran nuclear deal. moderndiplomacy.eu Ongoing talks to get the Iran nuclear deal back on track indicate "additional effort and patience" are required for its full restoration, the UN political affairs chief told the UN Security Council in New York on Tuesday. Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo briefed ambassadors on developments surrounding the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which sets out …
(2021-12-15). Tehran cannot stand interference in nuclear, defense program. en.mehrnews.com Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said that Iran does not tolerate any interference in its peaceful nuclear and defense program, reiterating that the trio islands are the permanent and inseparable part of Iran.
(2021-12-15). ÔªøCurrent Dispute Over ICBMs Is a Quarrel Over How to Fine-Tune the Doomsday Machinery. zcomm.org Nuclear weapons are at the pinnacle of what Martin Luther King Jr. called "the madness of militarism."
(2021-12-15). Iran Nuclear Talks Falter as Biden Administration Squanders Window for Diplomacy. truthout.org 
The United States is continuing talks with Iran over its nuclear program after President Trump withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2015. With a new Iranian administration after April's controversial election, many worry that if talks fail, tensions between the two countries could turn into military escalation fueled by pressure from Israel. "The new hard-line team has been coming in to the negotiation table with more demands than the previous administration," says Iranian…
(2021-12-15). Tehran reached a good agreement with IAEA. en.mehrnews.com The Iranian Foreign Minister said Wednesday that Tehran reached a good agreement with the IAEA last night, saying that this could respond to some of the alleged concerns about Iran's peaceful nuclear program.
(2021-12-15). Iran Nuclear Talks Falter as Biden Admin Threatens "Alternatives" After Squandering Window for Diplomacy. democracynow.org 
The United States is continuing talks with Iran over its nuclear program after President Trump withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2015. With a new Iranian administration after April's controversial election, many worry that if talks fail, tensions between the two countries could turn into military escalation fueled by pressure from Israel. "The new hard-line team has been coming in to the negotiation table with more demands than the previous administration," says Iranian American journalist Negar Mortazavi. "They want sanctions relief from the U.S. in exchange for them scaling back part of th…
(2021-12-15). Putin, Xi running circles around Biden's hybrid war. asiatimes.com 
Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin spent an hour and 14 minutes in a video conversation on Wednesday. Geopolitically, paving the way for 2022, this is the one that really matters — much more than Putin-Biden a week ago. Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov, who generally carefully measures his words, had previously hinted that this …