(2020-12-07). Egypt's new crackdown on powerful businessmen sparks criticism. middleeasteye.net 
Egypt's new crackdown on powerful businessmen sparks criticism | The arrest of the owner of a major chain of stores in Egypt follows a pattern of arrests of influential businessmen once allied with the Sisi government | Mon, 12/07/2020 – 13: 33 | Sayed Sowerky's Al-Tawhid wel Noor stores, selling household items and clothing, are found across Egypt (Screengrab/Social media) | The arrest of a prominent Eg…
(2020-12-07). Arabic press review: Family of Egypt's Mubarak to sue EU over 'illegal sanctions'. middleeasteye.net 
Arabic press review: Family of Egypt's Mubarak to sue EU over 'illegal sanctions' | Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia prepares for reconciliation with Qatar, Bashir's health deteriorates in jail, and video of Egyptian man throwing cash from balcony goes viral | Mon, 12/07/2020 – 16: 38 | Gamal Mubarak (seen to right of his late father Hosni) said he will sue the Council of the European Union after winning…
(2020-12-07). France's weapons sales to Egypt won't be conditioned on human rights, says Macron. middleeasteye.net 
France's weapons sales to Egypt won't be conditioned on human rights, says Macron | Despite criticism from rights groups for hosting Sisi, the French leader said the two countries were 'united' in building 'a space of civilisation' | Mon, 12/07/2020 – 13: 30 | French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Elysee Palace in Paris on 7 December 2020…
(2020-12-07). As Sisi meets Macron, Egypt renews detention of human rights activist. middleeasteye.net 
As Sisi meets Macron, Egypt renews detention of human rights activist | A number of detained members of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights were released last week, but Zaki remains in custody pending similar charges | Mon, 12/07/2020 – 10: 39 | Patrick George Zaki has been in custody since 7 February upon his return from Italy, where he had been living and studying (Twitter) | A l…
(2020-12-07). Stuck In A Lift With John Pilger — 'News And How To Use It' by Alan Rusbridger. zcomm.org Pilger tells the unfiltered, uncompromised truth about the foundations of power. His focus is on speaking up for the victims of power, not on serving power…
(2020-12-07). Why Jeh Johnson Would Be a Better Defense Secretary Than Mich√®le Flournoy. commondreams.org Flournoy has repeatedly demonstrated throughout her career, both in her official Pentagon positions in the Clinton and Obama administrations and in her published writings and statements, that she actually believes in the normalization of war. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/img_0793.jpg …
(2020-12-06). Egypt's Sisi arrives in France for controversial visit. middleeasteye.net 
Egypt's Sisi arrives in France for controversial visit | The Egyptian leader will discuss 'strategic partnership' with French President Emmanuel Macron during his three-day visit to Paris | Sun, 12/06/2020 – 10: 33 | Macron has faced criticism for hosting Sisi after Egypt jailed three rights activists after briefing diplomats from Europe and America on the state of human rights in Egypt (A…
(2020-12-06). Saudi Arabia's Turki bin Faisal dubs Israel 'Western colonising power' at Bahrain summit. middleeasteye.net 
Saudi Arabia's Turki bin Faisal dubs Israel 'Western colonising power' at Bahrain summit | Prince's comments come after Bahrain and the United Arab Emitates normalised diplomatic relations with Israel | Sun, 12/06/2020 – 11: 31 | Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi said he expressed regrets about Faisal's comments (AFP) | Saudi Prince Turki bin Faisal strongly criticised Israel and dub…
(2020-12-06). The Moroccan Monarchy's War on Journalism. counterpunch.org 
Hardly covered in English-language media, Morocco's image abroad is usually set by vapidly laudatory puff pieces and its photogenic tourist sites. The social reality of its inhabitants tells another story. With a Human Development Index score near the bottom of the Arab world, an illiteracy rate above 26%, and approximately 80% of its workforce toiling
(2020-12-06). Review of Hensman's 'Indefensible'. zcomm.org Defense of the Easily Defensible By Dave Markland In 2018 Haymarket Books published Rohini Hensman's Indefensible: Democracy, Counter-revolution and Anti-imperialist Rhetoric. Its focus is on left journalists and analysts like John Pilger and the late Edward S. Herman who have committed the inexcusable sin of being overly suspicious of United States foreign policy. Many readers
(2020-12-06). Covid Mideast Updates: Iran – Turkey – Morocco – Kuwait. telesurenglish.net Iran's COVID-19 cases surged to 1,040,547 on Sunday with 11,561 new infections. Meanwhile, Turkey registered 195 more deaths from the coronavirus, the highest daily record in the country. | Iran, the hardest-hit country in the Middle East region, reported 294 new deaths from the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 50,310, said Sima Sadat Lari, spokeswoman for the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education, during her daily briefing. | A total of 730,798 people have recovered from the disease and been discharged from hospitals, while 5,809 remain in intensive care units. | Followi…
(2020-12-06). Venezuela: Parliamentary Elections Kick off Without Setbacks. telesurenglish.net With the traditional reveille, Venezuela Sunday began the parliamentary elections to form the new National Assembly in a process in which 14,000 candidates and over 100 political parties are taking part. | RELATED: | "Election Day is advancing with absolute normality. The 30,000 tables enabled nationwide will operate until 18h00 local time or until the last person in line votes," TeleSUR correspondent in Venezuela Leo…
(2020-12-05). What's Not Being Said About the Pfizer Coronavirus Vaccine. "Human Guinea Pigs"? globalresearch.ca The Pharma giant Pfizer use an experimental technology known as gene editing, specifically mRNA gene-editing, something never before used in vaccines. Before we rush to get jabbed in hopes of some immunity, we should know more about the radical experimental technology and its lack of precision.
(2020-12-05). Sudan's civilian government condemns army chief's new council. middleeasteye.net 
Sudan's civilian government condemns army chief's new council | General Abdel Fattah Burhan's new council puts him at odds with the civilian branch of Sudan's transitional government as it attempts to forge a way ahead | Sat, 12/05/2020 – 16: 13 | Sudan's Sovereignty Council comprises military leaders like Burhan, left, and civilian protest leaders (AFP) | Members of Sudan's transitional g…
(2020-12-05). Saudi foreign minister says deal 'close' to end Qatar blockade. middleeasteye.net 
Saudi foreign minister says deal 'close' to end Qatar blockade | While previous reports indicated a thaw between Riyadh and Doha alone, Prince Faisal says UAE, Bahrain and Egypt would also be involved | Sat, 12/05/2020 – 14: 41 | Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud speaks during his meeting with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on 14 October 2020, in Washington…
(2020-12-05). A racist endeavor: zionist Israel's black Jewish victims of color. mronline.org 
Even when reports of its racism escape this ideological censorship, examples of racism in Israel are treated as isolated incidents, rather than systemic characteristics of the entire racist regime.
(2020-12-05). The Road to a More Just Society Runs Through Congress. commondreams.org Think about all the dreams for a better world that could come to be realized if our elected officials worked for the big majority of Americans instead of for Big Business interests. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/congress_5.jpg …
(2020-12-05). [Viewpoint] Certifying Guinea worm eradication: current challenges. thelancet.com The Guinea Worm Eradication Programme (GWEP) is, along with polio, one of two active eradication programmes endorsed by the World Health Assembly. Currently, smallpox is the only human infection to have been eradicated.1 Guinea worm disease, or dracunculiasis, is caused by infection with Dracunculus medinensis that is acquired by the ingestion of infected copepods (of the genera Cyclops and Mesocyclops) or by consuming viable infective larvae in fish or other paratenic hosts.2,3 Polio and Guinea worm programmes have made great progress; however, both programmes face major challenges as they progress towards eradi…
(2020-12-05). [Editorial] An African plan to control COVID-19 is urgently needed. thelancet.com As governments in countries hit hardest by COVID-19 prepare vaccination programmes against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), other nations face a more uncertain future. In Africa, for example, the pandemic continues to grow, but heterogeneously. Cases are rising sharply in Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, and South Africa. But in Africa's most populous nation, Nigeria, WHO reports only 1173 deaths from COVID-19. Although data are sparse, the first wave of the pandemic seemed to peak in early August.
(2020-12-05). Pentagon Says Almost All US Troops to Leave Somalia—But Military Operations Will Continue. commondreams.org "This action is not a change in U.S. policy," said the Defense Department, which has been conducting an air and ground war in the East African nation since 2007. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/africom_0.jpg …
(2020-12-05). [World Report] South Africa and India push for COVID-19 patents ban. thelancet.com They want the WTO to temporarily suspend intellectual property rights so that COVID-19 vaccines and other new technologies are accessible for poor countries. Ann Danaiya Usher reports.
(2020-12-05). Namibian Rà∂ssing Mine Workers Face Covid-19 & Attacks From State Owned China State Owners. indybay.org Namibian Rà∂ssing mine workers face the Covid-19 pandemic & attacks from state owned China National Uranium Corporation Limited. They have tried to intimidate and bribe union leaders and also have fired the Namibian Miner's Union Rà∂ssing Union branch.
(2020-12-05). What's new on Netflix in December from "Big Mouth" & Chadwick Boseman to a bearded George Clooney. salon.com It's a great month for holiday films, such as one from Dolly Parton — plus several "Jeopardy!" specials…