(2020-02-11). Egypt's population officially hits 100mn. rt.com 
Egypt's fast-growing population hit 100 million people on Tuesday, the official statistics agency said. The figure is an increase of 7 million since the publication of the latest census results in 2017. | The population in Egypt has tripled since 1960, with the annual growth rate peaking in 1987 at nearly 2.8 percent. | The country is trying to cope with resurgent birth rates and what the World Bank calls a looming "youth bulge," AP said. Those between ages 18-29 comprise over one-fifth of the population, according to the statistics agency. | Most of the population live in urban areas near the Nile. The capita…
(2020-02-11). 'Don't forget Madagascar's children', UN appeals for long-term help as emergency worsens. news.un.org Since 2012, the plight of children in Madagascar has not improved and is in many cases getting worse, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.
(2020-02-11). Official: Sudan to Hand Over Omar al-Bashir for Genocide Trial. truthdig.com 
For his role in the Darfur conflict, the county's former president also stands accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes.
(2020-02-11). Sudan to hand over former president to International Criminal Court. thecanary.co 
Sudan's transitional authorities and rebel groups have agreed to hand over former president Omar al-Bashir to the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes, including mass killings in Darfur, a top official said.Al-Bashir, who was overthrown by the military last year amid a public uprising, is wanted by the ICC on charges of crimes against humanity and genocide related to the Darfur conflict.Since his ousting in April, he has been in jail in Sudan's capital Khartoum on charges of corruption and killing protesters.Mohammed Hassan al-Taishi, a member of the Sovereign Council and a government negotiator, s…
(2020-02-11). Speculation For Extradition of Sudan Ex-President Omar al-Bashir to International Criminal Court. sputniknews.com The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued two arrest warrants for the ousted Sudanese leader in connection with the conflict in Darfur, charging him with genocide and crimes against humanity in 2009 and 2010.
(2020-02-11). What's Driving Democrats' 'Bernie-or-Bust' Freakout. truthdig.com Even before the debacle of the Iowa caucuses, in which the Democratic Party managed, despite its ineptitude, to deny Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., a clear public victory by spiking the results entirely, there was a palpable sense of panic among the party's conservatives. (For some reason, we have all agreed to call them "centrists" or "moderates.") While his poll numbers remained fairly strong nationally and throughout the more heavily African-American South, Joe Biden seemed to be fading — in some cases almost literally — before our eyes. | Once-viable liberals like the prosecutor-turned-senator Kamala…
(2020-02-11). UN Security Council Votes to Extend Libya Oil Sanctions, Russia Abstains. sputniknews.com UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) – The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted on Tuesday evening resolution that extended sanctions on Libya until 30 April 2021 related to the illicit export of crude oil.
(2020-02-11). New doc & THIRD whistleblower hit OPCW for throwing dirt at leakers claiming Douma account was fabricated — report. rt.com 
A third whistle-blower has come forward to corroborate the previous complaints that the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) tried to suppress evidence-gathering in the Douma probe, a report says. | The alleged new whistleblower, whose redacted email was shared by the Grayzone Project on Tuesday, backed the complaints made by two former OPCW employees — South African engineer and organization's veteran Ian Henderson, and another whistleblower known as 'Alex.' | OPCW Director-General Fernando Arias had earlier dismissed the pair — dubbed Inspector A and Inspector B in the orga…
(2020-02-10). Libya is Being Torn Apart By Outsiders. counterpunch.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
(2020-02-10). Act now to prevent Desert Locust catastrophe in Horn of Africa: UN agencies. news.un.org With the rainy season fast approaching, countries in the Horn of Africa are in a race against time to tackle a Desert Locust invasion amidst ongoing humanitarian challenges, the United Nations warned on Monday.
(2020-02-10). Radioactive material 'a magnet for groups with malicious intent', warns UN nuclear watchdog chief. news.un.org Government ministers and other high-level representatives from more than 140 countries, on Monday adopted a new declaration to enhance global nuclear security and counter the threat of nuclear terrorism.
(2020-02-10). Turkey's Latest Quagmire: Intervention in Libya. counterpunch.org By openly declaring for one side in Libya, Turkey has damaged its ability to influence events. The Russians and French are also deeply involved in Libya, backing the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) in Tobruk. Italy backs the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) based in Tripoli.
(2020-02-10). UAE Withdraws Some Troops From Yemen, Sudan Plans the Same. telesurenglish.net United Arab Emirates (UAE) has started withdrawing its forces from Yemen, where it took part for five years in the brutal Saudi-led intervention against the Houthis in the impoverished country. | RELATED: | According to local media reports, a large number of soldiers returned Sunday from Yemen to UAE's capital Abu Dhabi. | At a medal awarding ceremony for his troops, Deputy Chief of Staff of UAE Armed Forces, General Eisa Saif Al Mazro…
(2020-02-10). "Our Very Existence Is the Resistance": An Hour w/ AOC, Ayanna Pressley, Rashida Tlaib & Ilhan Omar. democracynow.org 
On Friday, Democracy Now! co-host Nermeen Shaikh sat down for a rare joint interview with the Squad, the group of four freshmen Democratic congresswomen who have taken Capitol Hill by storm: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota. Omar and Tlaib are the first Muslim women elected to Congress. Omar is a former refugee from Somalia, and Tlaib is the first female Palestinian-American member of Congress. Ayanna Pressley is the first African-American woman elected to Congress from Massachusetts. Ocasio-Cortez was just 29 years old w…
(2020-02-10). Three Old White Guys: Bernie, Biden and Bloomberg. counterpunch.org Pete Buttigieg's declaration of victory in Iowa reminded us that neither sex, sexual orientation or skin color is in any way intrinsic to a person's judgement – the first gay or the first African-American or the first woman to do this or that may still be mired in the mediocrity of their convictions. Distinctions of identity may remain relevant, but it is the authenticity of their narratives that should concern us.
(2020-02-09). Thousands protest in Morocco against Donald Trump's plans for the Middle East. thecanary.co 
Thousands of people have marched in Morocco's capital to protest against US President Donald Trump's so-called peace plan for the Middle East.Demonstrators also oppose what they see as the Moroccan Government's lenient position toward it.Political leaders from Islamists to left-wing figures took part in the march through Rabat alongside union members, activists and members of civil society groups.Women chant slogans during the demonstration in Rabat (Mosa'ab Elshamy/AP)Palestinian flags and chants animated the scene as protesters criticised the Trump-led initiative.The marchers also expressed frustration with Mor…
(2020-02-09). AU Summit: Guterres calls for 'collective, comprehensive, coordinated' response to challenges facing Africa. news.un.org The challenges facing African nations are "complex, multi-faceted and far-reaching" but a "collective, comprehensive and coordinated" response by the global community will build on the momentum that already exists to help the continent thrive, the UN chief told the African Union Summit on Sunday.
(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".
(2020-02-08). Lasting Libya ceasefire: Some consensus, but further talks needed – UN Mission. news.un.org The first round of UN-brokered talks between military representatives in Geneva aimed at forging a lasting ceasefire between Libyan Government and main opposition forces, has concluded without full agreement, despite reaching consensus in many areas.
(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). 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.
(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…
(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). '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). 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). 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…
(2020-01-29). 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.