Daily Archives: 2020-02-08

2020-02-08: News Headlines

news.un (2020-02-08). African Union Summit: Guterres hails 'shared values, mutual respect and common interests' of UN partnership. news.un.org The UN chief on Saturday called on the international community to recognize the need for African counter-terrorism operations, backed by the UN Security Council, to tackle the growing threat of extremist violence across the continent, and "predictable funding, guaranteed by compulsory contributions".

sputniknews (2020-02-08). Egypt's President Says Consensus on Libya Being Violated by 'Well-Known Regional Sides'. sputniknews.com ADDIS ABABA (Sputnik) – Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi on Saturday accused several unspecified countries of violating the consensus on Libya, reached this January in Berlin.

news.un (2020-02-07). 28 militiamen sentenced in Central African Republic for murder of civilians, UN peacekeepers. news.un.org The sentencing of 28 militia members on Friday in the Central African Republic (CAR) for an array of violent crimes, including the murder of civilians as well as 10 UN peacekeepers, has been hailed as a major step forward in the fight against impunity there.

teleSUR (2020-02-07). Nigerian Police Kills 250 militants in Combat Operation. telesurenglish.net Up to 250 militants of an extremist group were killed in a combat operation by the police in Nigeria's central northern state of Kaduna, a police spokesman said on Thursday. | RELATED: | High profile members of the outlawed

Staff (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…

Fight Back (2020-02-07). Milwaukee area law enforcement kill two people in one week. fightbacknews.org Milwaukee, WI – The Milwaukee Police Department, the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) and other law enforcement departments in the surrounding suburbs are notorious for their treatment of Milwaukee's African-American residents, who make up nearly 40% of the population. This fact has been confirmed by this last week, where two people lost their lives due to negligence and criminal misuse of deadly force. | During the morning of January 25, Ceasar Stinson, 47, was killed in a car crash precipitated by an unmarked MCSO squad car. Stinson was a long-time community advocate and a lobbyist for Milwaukee Public…

Julia Conley, staff writer (2020-02-07). New Report Details How Fossil Fuel Industry's Climate Destruction Also Exacerbates Human Rights Abuses. commondreams.org In addition to having a disproportionate impact on marginalized communities around the globe which have contributed the least to climate-warming fossil fuel emissions, the climate crisis has exacerbated the human rights violations already perpetrated by the fossil fuel industry, according to a new report. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/1._ogoniland_nigeria_1.jpg

news.un (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.

news.un (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.

Staff (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…

news.un (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.

Vijay Prashad (2020-02-05). Libya is being torn apart by outsiders. mronline.org Ghassan Salamé is the head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya. He took over this job in 2017, six years after the catastrophic NATO war on Libya. What Salamé inherited was a country torn into shreds, two governments in place—one in Tripoli and one in Tobruk—and one civil war that had too many […] |

news.un (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.

Staff (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…

news.un (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.

news.un (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.

Staff (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…

Staff (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…

splcenter (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.

2020-02-08: Social Media Postees

Please be social by posting these 'POSTEES' on social media!

African Union Summit: Guterres hails 'shared values, mutual respect and common interests' of UN partnership
news.un.org | 2020-02-08
The UN chief on Saturday called on the international community to recognize the need for African counter-terrorism operations, backed by the UN Security Council, to tackle the growing threat of extremist violence across the continent, and "predictable funding, guaranteed by compulsory contributions".
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2020/02/1056972

Egypt's President Says Consensus on Libya Being Violated by 'Well-Known Regional Sides'
sputniknews.com | 2020-02-08
ADDIS ABABA (Sputnik) – Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi on Saturday accused several unspecified countries of violating the consensus on Libya, reached this January in Berlin.
sputniknews.com/africa/202002081078263630-egypts-president-says-consensus-on-libya-being-violated-by-well-known-regional-sides/

Nigerian Police Kills 250 militants in Combat Operation
telesurenglish.net | 2020-02-07
Up to 250 militants of an extremist group were killed in a combat operation by the police in Nigeria's central northern state of Kaduna, a police spokesman said on Thursday. | RELATED: | Around 500 Men, Boys Rescued From 'Horror' Camps in Nigeria | High profile members of the outlawed Ansaru group were among those killed when a combined team of the police forces, bac…
telesurenglish.net/news/Nigerian-Police-Kills-250-militants-in-Combat-Operation-20200207-0014.html

Libya is Being Torn Apart By Outsiders
Vijay Prashad | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-07
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…
counterpunch.org/2020/02/07/libya-is-being-torn-apart-by-outsiders/

28 militiamen sentenced in Central African Republic for murder of civilians, UN peacekeepers
news.un.org | 2020-02-07
The sentencing of 28 militia members on Friday in the Central African Republic (CAR) for an array of violent crimes, including the murder of civilians as well as 10 UN peacekeepers, has been hailed as a major step forward in the fight against impunity there.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2020/02/1056962

Milwaukee area law enforcement kill two people in one week
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2020-02-07
Milwaukee, WI – The Milwaukee Police Department, the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) and other law enforcement departments in the surrounding suburbs are notorious for their treatment of Milwaukee's African-American residents, who make up nearly 40% of the population. This fact has been confirmed by this last week, where two people lost their lives due to negligence and criminal misuse of deadly force. | During the morning of January 25, Ceasar Stinson, 47, was killed in a car crash precipitated by an unmarked MCSO squad car. Stinson was a long-time community advocate and a lobbyist for Milwaukee Public…
fightbacknews.org/2020/2/7/milwaukee-area-law-enforcement-kill-two-people-one-week

New Report Details How Fossil Fuel Industry's Climate Destruction Also Exacerbates Human Rights Abuses
Julia Conley, staff writer | commondreams.org | 2020-02-07
In addition to having a disproportionate impact on marginalized communities around the globe which have contributed the least to climate-warming fossil fuel emissions, the climate crisis has exacerbated the human rights violations already perpetrated by the fossil fuel industry, according to a new report. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/1._ogoniland_nigeria_1.jpg
commondreams.org/news/2020/02/07/new-report-details-how-fossil-fuel-industrys-climate-destruction-also-exacerbates?cd-origin=rss

Central African Republic: One year after peace deal, a 'long, steep' road ahead to ensure child rights protections
news.un.org | 2020-02-06
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.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2020/02/1056842

'Convergence' over lasting Libya ceasefire, as negotiator urges against 'provocative' acts
news.un.org | 2020-02-06
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.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2020/02/1056882

Libya is being torn apart by outsiders
Vijay Prashad | mronline.org | 2020-02-05
Ghassan Salamé is the head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya. He took over this job in 2017, six years after the catastrophic NATO war on Libya. What Salamé inherited was a country torn into shreds, two governments in place–one in Tripoli and one in Tobruk–and one civil war that had too many […] | Source…
mronline.org/2020/02/05/libya-is-being-torn-apart-by-outsiders/

FROM THE FIELD: Chad returnees' reluctant homecoming
news.un.org | 2020-02-05
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.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2020/02/1056632

Africa's Sahel: Act now before the crisis 'becomes unmanageable', urges Grandi
news.un.org | 2020-02-05
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.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2020/02/1056782

Both sides in Libya conflict agree need for lasting ceasefire: UN negotiator
news.un.org | 2020-02-04
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.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2020/02/1056642

South Sudan: UN official welcomes release of women and children abducted by armed group
news.un.org | 2020-02-04
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.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2020/02/1056712

ACLU: Trump Is Expanding His Racist Travel Ban, This Time Targeting Africans
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-02-03
The Trump administration has expanded its contested travel ban to six additional countries

"Coded Bias": New Film Looks at Fight Against Racial Bias in Facial Recognition & AI Technology
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-01-30
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…
www.democracynow.org/2020/1/30/coded_bias_shalini_kantayya_joy_buolamwini

Weekend Read: 2020: African Americans and the Vote
splcenter.org | 2020-01-29
Historian Carter G. Woodson in 1926 established "Negro History Week" to celebrate the contributions to our nation made by Black people.
splcenter.org/news/2020/02/01/weekend-read-2020-african-americans-and-vote