(2020-12-31). Top 10 Questions for Antony Blinken. dissidentvoice.org 
Before Antony Blinken can become Secretary of State, Senators must approve. And before that, they must ask questions. Here are some suggestions for what they should ask. 1. Second to the war on Iraq, which of the disasters you've helped facilitate do you most regret, Libya, Syria, Ukraine, or something else? And what have you …
(2020-12-31). Palestinian rights have always been secondary to the 'national interest' of Arab regimes. mronline.org 
Normalisation with Israel is just the latest example of Arab rulers advancing their own interests at the expense of Palestinians.
(2020-12-31). 'Unacceptable': Italy slams Egypt decision to clear police of Giulio Regeni's murder. middleeasteye.net 
'Unacceptable': Italy slams Egypt decision to clear police of Giulio Regeni's murder | Rome says it will work at all levels to find truth after Egyptian prosecutor clears five officers and criticises Italian accusations | Thu, 12/31/2020 – 17: 41 | Italian authorities say they plan to charge four senior Egyptian security officials in murder of Regeni (AFP) | Italy called Egypt's decision to clear five police o…
(2020-12-31). United Nations, African Union reiterate commitment to Sudan, as joint mission ends operations. news.un.org The United Nations Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission have reiterated their commitment to continue to support Sudan consolidate peace as the AU-UN hybrid peacekeeping mission in the country's Darfur region ends its operations on Thursday.
(2020-12-31). Top 10 Questions for Neera Tanden. counterpunch.org Before Neera Tanden can become Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Senators must approve. And before that, they must ask questions. Here are some suggestions for what they should ask. 1. You supported an attack on Libya that proved fraudulently marketed, illegal, and catastrophic in results, after which you argued in an email to your colleagues
(2020-12-31). WorkWeek Exposes Racist & Corrupt SF City Health Service System Boss Mitch Griggs. indybay.org WorkWeek on Thursday 12/31/20 at 12 noon on San Francisco's KPOO 94.1 FM www.kpoo.com will have guests who expose the systemic racism and corruption at the San Francisco City Health Service System run by Mitch Griggs and also at the Department of Public Health. Joining the show will be the new editor of the SF Bay View Malik Washington who broke the story of the racist terrorism against SF City Health Service worker Malika Alima. Also joining the show will be SFCC Department of Public Health nurse and whistleblower W.D. Flient.
(2020-12-31). The Final Hours of Ethiopia's TPLF Regime. counterpunch.org With their army destroyed and their last, best troops wiped out in one morning on the outskirts of their capital Mekele the last remnants of the leadership of Ethiopia's TPLF regime were forced to retreat to the secret Hagarasalam underground bunkers near the capital. Built by the notoriously paranoid and cowardly TPLF godfather Meles Zenawi,
(2020-12-31). Guinea-Bissau: UN chief commits to continued support as peacebuilding office closes. news.un.org United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres reaffirmed the Organization's commitment to the people of Guinea-Bissau on Thursday, the final day of operations for the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in the West African country (UNIOGBIS).
(2020-12-30). Prominent Moroccan historian and human rights activist arrested in Rabat. middleeasteye.net 
Prominent Moroccan historian and human rights activist arrested in Rabat | Maati Monjib, who has been targeted by authorities using Israeli spyware, is accused of money laundering | Wed, 12/30/2020 – 11: 36 | Maati Monjib, a Moroccan historian, political analyst and human rights activist, speaks in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, 20 February 2014 (AFP) | Moroccan historian and human rights activist Maati Monjib w…
(2020-12-30). Giulio Regeni murder: Egypt clears officers and slams Italian accusations. middleeasteye.net 
Giulio Regeni murder: Egypt clears officers and slams Italian accusations | Prosecutor says Italian accusations against Egyptian security officers are based on 'false assumptions rejected by logic' | Wed, 12/30/2020 – 22: 40 | Giulio Regeni, 28-year-old doctoral researcher at Cambridge University, disappeared in Cairo in January 2016. His body was discovered nine days later and showed extensive marks of tortur…
(2020-12-30). First Person: family tragedy and the UN as 'saviour' in Darfur. news.un.org The people of the restive region of Darfur in Sudan have seen the joint United Nations and African Union peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) as a "saviour" according to a writer for UN News who grew up in Darfur.
(2020-12-30). UN confirms closure of Darfur peacekeeping mission. news.un.org The joint United Nations-African Union mission in the Darfur region of Sudan (UNAMID) will officially end operations on Thursday, when the Government of Sudan will take over responsibility for the protection of civilians in the area.
(2020-12-30). "Mass Sterilization": Kenyan Doctors Find Anti-fertility Agent in UN Tetanus Vaccine? globalresearch.ca Global Research Editor's Note | This article first published by Global Research on May 24, 2019 is of utmost relevance to the ongoing debate on the Covid Vaccine. | *** | In October 2014, the conference of Catholic bishops in Kenya released a …
(2020-12-30). Sudan-Ethiopia border conflict escalates. peoplesdispatch.org On Tuesday, December 29, the Ethiopian foreign ministry warned of a "counter-offensive" after the Sudanese army announced that it had recaptured an area in the contested Al-Fashaga region near the border between the two countries. | The Al-Fashaga region falls on the Sudanese side of the border delineated by the British in 1902, who had colonized Sudan at the time. The Ethiopian delegation refused to recognize this border in the recently held talks in Sudanese capital Khartoum, which ended on December 23 without an agreement on the demarcation of land. | Ethiopian farmers have been settled in Al-Fashaga, which is…
(2020-12-30). UN mission leaves Darfur amid security concerns. laprensalatina.com By al-Nur al-Zaki Khartoum, Dec 30 (efe-epa).- The United Nations peace mission to Darfur's (UNAMID) mandate ends on Thursday, 13 years after its launch, despite several persistant challenges. A rebel group is still active in the Sudanese region, 1.8 million people are displaced and tribal violence is not rare although the civil war that hit …
(2020-12-30). Lame-Duck Trump's "Middle East Arms Bonanza" Continues With Approval of $290 Million Weapons Sale to Saudi Regime. commondreams.org Additional arms deals this week include $4 billion in helicopters to Kuwait, $169 million in military equipment to Egypt, and $65 million in drones and fighter jets to UAE. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/saudi_arms.jpg …
(2020-12-30). Algerian MP Proposes Bill to Ban Promotion of Israel Normalization Talks in Mass Media. sputniknews.com After Morocco agreed to normalize relations with Israel, other Maghrebi nations came out against the deal and promised not to follow suit. However, several former Tunisian officials in particular have accused Algiers of "playing with fire," and thus forcing Rabat into the deal.
(2020-12-29). Algeria uncovers ransom payment linked to hostage exchange agreement in Mali. middleeasteye.net 
Algeria uncovers ransom payment linked to hostage exchange agreement in Mali | Authorities discover large sum paid to militants active in Algeria for release of four hostages in Mali | Tue, 12/29/2020 – 12: 08 | Algiers has previously described paying ransoms to militant groups as "dubious practices" that are "contrary to UN resolutions" (AFP) | A large sum of ransom money was discovered b…
(2020-12-29). Man who sparked Egypt's MeToo movement sentenced to three years. middleeasteye.net 
Man who sparked Egypt's MeToo movement sentenced to three years | Campaign prompted by allegations against Ahmed Bassam Zaki revealed other shocking sexual harassment cases | Tue, 12/29/2020 – 16: 22 | Egyptian protesters hold up placards and shout slogans during a demonstration in Cairo against sexual harassment on 12 February 2013 (AFP) | An Egyptian court on Tuesday sentenced a former s…
(2020-12-29). COVID-19 threatening development gains in Cape Verde: a UN Resident Coordinator blog. news.un.org Progress made towards sustainable development by the Atlantic Ocean nation, Cape Verde, is under serious threat due to the COVID-19 pandemic according to the United Nations' most senior official in the country. In this blog, UN Resident Coordinator Ana Patricia Graàßa, explains how the UN is supporting the small island country to rebound from the impact of the virus.
(2020-12-29). Western Sahara Remains a Crucial Legitimizing Crutch for the Moroccan Monarchy. counterpunch.org On Monday, December 14th, a small group of demonstrators attempted to convene a protest outside Morocco's pretend parliament in the polished French colonial era centre ville of Rabat. The demonstrators, representing a handful of Moroccan Palestine solidarity organizations, hoped to display public opposition to the Moroccan monarchy's normalization of political relations with Israel, which had
(2020-12-29). South Africa: COVID-19 Second Wave Hits Harder Than The First. telesurenglish.net The South African government announced on Monday the country's return to the level three lockdown as COVID-19 infections surpassed the first wave with 7000 new cases reported in the last 24hrs. | RELATED: | "Yesterday we reported 1,011,871 cumulative cases with over 7,000 new cases. In this last epidemiological week, we have surpassed the peak of the first wave and we had indicated that the epidemiological picture would compel us to tighten restrictions," the gov…
(2020-12-29). Sudan, Ethiopia dispatch armed forces to common border areas. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 29 (MNA) — Following the escalation of tensions between Sudan and Ethiopia, both sides have dispatched military forces to common border areas.
(2020-12-29). The DOJ's Antitrust Lawsuit Against Google Is Gaining Ground. truthout.org Janine Jackson interviewed EFF's Mitch Stoltz about breaking up Google for the Janine Jackson: There is such a thing as a company simply having too much power; even without evidence of malign intent, it just isn't healthy. | That's the basic thinking behind antitrust law in this country. And if the power is ove…
(2020-12-28). Curfew & ban on alcohol sales: South Africa imposes new restrictions amid Covid-19 infections surge. rt.com 
South Africa's government has introduced a set of stringent measures to curb a spike in new coronavirus infections, including an extended curfew and a ban on all alcohol sales ahead of New Year celebrations. | New Year's Eve is typically "a time of festivity," but "there is little cause for celebration this year," President Cyril Ramaphosa Under 'Alert Level 3,' people across South Africa wil…
(2020-12-28). Ugandan presidential candidate Bobi Wine's security guard killed, 2 journalists hurt in attack on rally. peoplesdispatch.org This is the third such attack against Bobi Wine, strong challenger to the country's long-time president Yoweri Museveni, since he filed his nomination in November. Presidential elections are to be held on January 14, 2021…
(2020-12-28). United States and Morocco Redraw Map of North African Territory. globalresearch.ca There is a major effort underway to convince and coerce African and Asian nations to "normalize" relations with the State of Israel in exchange for promised United States financial, military and diplomatic assistance. | The Kingdom of Morocco is the latest …
(2020-12-28). 25,000 refugees in unsettled Tigray region receive urgent UN food supplies. news.un.org Some 25,000 Eritrean refugees, sheltering in two camps in the unsettled Tigray region of Ethiopia, have received desperately needed food aid for the first time since mid-October.
(2020-12-28). Alex Saab Case: 'One Of The Most Egregious Examples Of Jurisdictional Overreach'. popularresistance.org Baltasar Garzón, former Spanish judge who is the defense attorney for Venezuelan diplomatic envoy àÅlex Saab, reiterated during an interview with the Colombian newspaper El Espectador that his client is a special envoy of the Government of Venezuela who works as a diplomatic agent for commercial and trade purposes, and that he was illegally detained by the Cape Verdean authorities in a process that violated international law in addition to violating his rights that are inherent to diplomatic immunity established in global laws. | The interview was offered by Garzón on the occasion of completion of 6 months…
