(2020-02-07). Libya is Being Torn Apart By Outsiders. counterpunch.org 
With the United States walking out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—more commonly known as the Iran accord—we all enter into a heightened zone of danger. Trump is threatening a war on Iran through his statements and tweets, and now by his actions, assassinating serving Iranian and Iraqi generals on Iraqi soil. Assassinations
(2020-02-07). Chinese scientists say pangolins might be missing link in coronavirus transmission. rt.com 
Chinese researchers now believe that the deadly coronavirus may have spread from bats to humans through the illegal sale and trafficking of pangolins, scaly mammals widely used in Eastern medicine. | "This latest discovery will be of great significance for the prevention and control of the origin (of the virus)," South China Agricultural University, which led the new research, said in a statement on its website. | Pangolins are among Asia's most-trafficked animals, with an estimated one million of the armored creatures snatched from Asian and African forests in the past decade despite specific protections unde…
(2020-02-07). Libyan warring sides reconvene to discuss ceasefire agreement — UN envoy. rt.com 
The UN's special representative for Libya has said the country's warring sides are working to turn a provisional ceasefire into a formal agreement as they emerged from four days of talks. Ghassan Salame, head of the United Nations support mission in Libya, said rival military leaders are negotiating the remaining sticking points in a ceasefire deal. | Salame said delegates will reconvene Friday to discuss the latest draft, AP reports. That agreement must then be sent back to their respective leaders for approval. | The return of internally displaced people, the disarmament of armed groups, ways to monitor a tr…
(2020-02-07). Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa. wsws.org Some 15,000 Finnish forestry and paper workers have extended their strike while public sector workers struck across Portugal and South Africa Toyota workers struck over the withholding of bonuses.
(2020-02-07). Headlines for February 7, 2020. democracynow.org Trump Lashed Out at "Evil" Lawmakers Who Voted to Impeach Him, Sanders and Buttigieg Virtually Tied with 100% of Iowa Precincts Reporting, Buttigieg Campaign Moves to Cut Ties with Head of Data Company That Contracts with ICE, Chinese Doctor Who Raised Alarm of Coronavirus Has Died, Trump Says Pentagon Killed Leader of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, Israeli Forces Kill 3 More Palestinians Amid Growing Protests, Canadian Police Raid Indigenous Wet'suwet'en Protest Camp, 20 Miners Trapped in Underground Mine in Zimbabwe, Brazilian Judge Declines to Pursue Charges Against Glenn Greenwald, El Salvador Says It Is…
(2020-02-07). From Souring Ties With Egypt to Fomenting Civil War: Journo Recalls Story of Mossad's Ops in Sudan. sputniknews.com On Monday, in an unprecedented move, Sudanese head of state Abdel Fattah al-Burhan met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Uganda, calling the get-together an attempt to establish "a relationship of goodwill" and form a "consensus…to halt all mutually hostile actions and positions".
(2020-02-06). Syrian Army's Offensive in Idlib Deepens Rift Between Russia and Turkey. globalresearch.ca Major strains are appearing in Russian-Turkish relations, particularly over the Syrian Army's latest offensive against Turkish-backed jihadists in Idlib and Russia's non-agreeance with Turkey's support for the Muslim Brotherhood government based in the Libyan capital of Tripoli. Last week Turkish…
(2020-02-06). Coronavirus: Uganda Quarantines Over 100 People. telesurenglish.net As many as 100 people, who arrived in Uganda from China, have been placed on a 14-day quarantine in a bid to avoid the possible spread of the coronavirus into the country, local media reported Thursday. | RELATED: | Ugandan Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng told reporters in Kampala that 44 of those quarantined were Chinese nationals, and the remaining 56 are Ugandans, the Daily Monitor newspaper reported. | "Those wit…
(2020-02-06). Draft UN Resolution Condemns Trump Middle East 'Peace' Plan. globalresearch.ca A draft United Nations Security Council resolution rebuked Tuesday President Donald Trump's pro-Israel Tunisia and Indonesia circulated the draft text to council members. Though it …
(2020-02-06). 'Convergence' over lasting Libya ceasefire, as negotiator urges against 'provocative' acts. news.un.org On day four of UN-led talks to transform an uncertain truce in Libya into a permanent ceasefire, veteran negotiator Ghassan Salamé on Thursday welcomed the "progress" that had been made so far, before urging an end to any "provocative" military action that might dash the chance of a successful outcome.
(2020-02-06). Evo Morales Warns of US Threats Against Him. telesurenglish.net Forner Bolivian president RELATED: | "The United States is targeting me, and I clearly remember what happened in Libya and Iraq. That is one of the reasons why I thought of being a candidate for le…
(2020-02-06). Central African Republic: One year after peace deal, a 'long, steep' road ahead to ensure child rights protections. news.un.org A year since the signing of a peace deal between the Government of the Central African Republic (CAR) and 14 armed groups, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported on Thursday that millions of children across the country remain threatened by violence and a lack of access to food, health care and other basic needs.
(2020-02-06). 'Tim the Tusker Elephant Dies in Kenya, Among Last of Its Kind. telesurenglish.net Kenya has lost a celebrated male elephant aged 50 years old that used to roam in the country's southeastern plains neighboring Tanzania, authorities said on Wednesday. | RELATED: |
(2020-02-06). From the South: How Can the Brexit Affect Caribbean Nations?>. telesurenglish.net Caribbean nations will continue their relationship with the European Union (EU) under the terms of the new agreement, Caricom Ambassador to Haiti, Earl Huntley declared Thursday in a televised interview with TeleSUR's "From the South." | RELATED: | Just a week ago, the United Kingdom formalized its departure from the EU. This move brings forth some questions to areas where British influence is a historical fact. The Ca…
(2020-02-06). Headlines for February 6, 2020. democracynow.org U.S. Senate Acquits Trump of Two Impeachment Charges, Iowa Caucus: Sanders & Buttigieg Virtually Tied with 97% of Precincts Reporting | , Newborn Baby Becomes Youngest Person Diagnosed with Coronavirus as Death Toll in China Hits 560, Human Rights Watch: 138 Salvadoran Asylum Seekers Killed After Being Deported from U.S., DHS: New York Residents Can No Longer Participate in Trusted Traveler Programs | , Jair Bolsonaro Introduces Bill to Clear Way for Mining, Oil Extraction in Brazilian Amazon | , Nicolás Maduro: Trump Taking U.S. Toward "High-Level Conflict with Venezuela" | , Thousands Protest in Algeria for 50t…
(2020-02-05). FROM THE FIELD: Chad returnees' reluctant homecoming. news.un.org Citizens of Chad who have spent most of their lives as refugees in neighbouring Central African Republic (CAR) have been talking to the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, about the challenges they have faced returning to their home country.
(2020-02-05). Headlines for February 5, 2020. democracynow.org Partial Results from Iowa Caucus Show Buttigieg Leading in Delegate Count, Democrats Boycott & Walk Out of Trump's State of the Union Address, Death Toll of Coronavirus Approaches 500, Report: Israel Pushes U.S. to Recognize Moroccan Sovereignty over Occupied Western Sahara, Magnitude 5.0 Earthquake Rattles Puerto Rico, Canadian Court Dismisses Indigenous Challenge to Trans Mountain Pipeline, Homelessness Among School-Age Children Hits Decade-Long High, HBO Max Picks Up Documentary "On the Record", Judge Reverses Convictions of No More Deaths Volunteers…
(2020-02-05). Africa's Sahel: Act now before the crisis 'becomes unmanageable', urges Grandi. news.un.org The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) is stepping up response in Africa's Sahel region where escalating violence has forced a rising number of people to flee their homes.
(2020-02-04). State of the union 'boycott': AOC & Ayanna bravely skip, Ilhan & Tlaib bravely go, but either way it's #Resistance. rt.com 
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ayanna Pressley will skip Trump's State of the Union address, while Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib will attend as an act of "resistance." | It appears the congressional "squad" of freshman Democrats is divided on how best to resist President Donald Trump. | The New York Democrat known as AOC announced she will not be attending Tuesday night's State of the Union address from the president. She says her presence will "legitimize" Trump. | After much deliberation, I have decided that I will not use my presence at a state ceremony to normalize Trump's lawless conduct & subversion of the…
(2020-02-04). FROM THE FIELD: 'A piece of me' was taken. news.un.org "My flesh has been taken away, but I can never give away my heart"; those are the powerful words of resolve from Abida Dawud, one of three women survivors of female genital mutilation, or FGM, from Ethiopia, who have been speaking to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) about their experiences.
(2020-02-04). Both sides in Libya conflict agree need for lasting ceasefire: UN negotiator. news.un.org The UN negotiator leading talks in Geneva to secure an end to fighting in Libya said on Tuesday that high-ranking officials from both sides of the conflict have agreed on the need for a "permanent and lasting" ceasefire to replace an uncertain truce.
(2020-02-04). South Sudan: UN official welcomes release of women and children abducted by armed group. news.un.org The expert leading UN efforts to stamp out sexual violence committed during wartime has welcomed the release of 78 women and 50 children by an armed group in South Sudan.
(2020-02-03). ACLU: Trump Is Expanding His Racist Travel Ban, This Time Targeting Africans. democracynow.org 
The Trump administration has expanded its contested travel ban to six additional countries — most of which are African nations. Under the new restrictions, nationals of Nigeria, Eritrea, Myanmar and Kyrgyzstan will no longer be able to obtain visas to live and work in the U.S., while Sudan and Tanzania will no longer be able to participate in the diversity visa lottery program. The ban, commonly referred to as the "Muslim ban," already affects citizens from Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Venezuela and North Korea. The expansion is expected to affect more than 350 million people. Democrats say they will…
(2020-01-30). "Coded Bias": New Film Looks at Fight Against Racial Bias in Facial Recognition & AI Technology. democracynow.org 
A new documentary looks at the dangers of artificial intelligence and its increasing omnipresence in daily life, as new research shows that it often reflects racist biases. Earlier this month, Cambridge, Massachusetts, became the latest major city to ban facial recognition technology, joining a growing number of cities, including San Francisco, to ban the artificial intelligence, citing flawed technology and racial and gender bias. A recent study also found that facial recognition identified African-American and Asian faces incorrectly 10 to 100 times more than white faces. The film "Coded Bias" begins with Joy B…
(2020-01-29). Weekend Read: 2020: African Americans and the Vote. splcenter.org Historian Carter G. Woodson in 1926 established "Negro History Week" to celebrate the contributions to our nation made by Black people.