(2021-02-11). Saturday 2/20: African American Theater Arts Troupe 30th Anniversary Gala. indybay.org online event | more info. and to register: www.cadrc.org…
(2021-02-11). Biden Should Stop Payment on U.S. Funds to Sisi's Egypt. zcomm.org They should put a "stop payment" on the U.S. taxpayer-funded check that has enabled Sisi to operate with impunity…
(2021-02-11). Merkel warns of aggressive coronavirus mutations. yenisafak.com New mutations of coronavirus first seen in the UK, South Africa and Brazil are more aggressive and more dangerous, German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned on Thursday.Addressing lawmakers in parliament, Merkel said it was necessary to extend the country's coronavirus lockdown until March 7, as new variants of the virus could lead to a more dangerous third wave of the pandemic."Not all the research has yet been finalized, but we'd be well advised to listen to what so many experts both in Germany and abroad tell us," she told lawmakers, referring to the UK, South Africa and Brazil variants, which were also detected…
(2021-02-11). Nigeria reports 1,131 new COVID-19 cases, 8 deaths. yenisafak.com Nigeria reported 1,131 new COVID-19 infections on Thursday, up from 1,056 confirmed the previous day.The new numbers pushed the overall caseload to 142,578 and 1,702 deaths as eight more patients succumbed to the disease in the last 24 hours, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.A record 2,314 infections were registered on Jan. 22.All travelers entering the West African country are required to take a COVID-19 test five days before departure.According to the Health Ministry, an estimated 80% of coronavirus patients are asymptomatic but can spread the disease to other people. It has urged the public…
(2021-02-11). Supreme court starts hearing Bobi Wine petition in Uganda. yenisafak.com The Supreme Court of Uganda started hearing a petition Thursday by the runner-up candidate of the country's presidential elections last month.Robert Kyagulanyi, locally known as Bobi Wine, is seeking to get the Jan. 14 ballot annulled after the country's electoral commission named sitting President Yoweri Museveni the winner.At the nine-judge hearing in the capital Kampala led by chief justice Alfonse Owiny Dollo, Wine claims that the election was not held in accordance with the Constitution and the law, according to his lead lawyer Medard Segona."The elections were not free and fair and I expect court to rule th…
(2021-02-11). Armenia says must normalize ties with Turkey to guarantee own security. yenisafak.com Ayvazyan, in an address to parliament, also underscored the need to reopen borders with Turkey, noting that keeping them closed "makes no sense anymore," according to TASS news."Keeping Armenia's borders with Turkey closed serves no purpose," Ayvazyan said as he called on ties with Turkey to be normalized.Ayvazyan also reportedly expressed concern over the joint Turkey-Azerbaijan military exercises as the two nations boost military cooperation.In December 2020, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country could open its borders to Armenia, if Yerevan takes steps toward regional peace."We have no grudge…
(2021-02-11). Friday 2/12: Namibian Mine Workers Union Rossing Solidarity At SF Chinese Consulate. indybay.org San Francisco Chinese Consulate | 1450 Laguna St at Geary St. San Francisco…
(2021-02-10). Why I Wrote "Educational Strategies for Youth Empowerment in Conflict Zones" counterpunch.org In a world that continues to be carved up into the false binary of West vs. East, there is an abundance of scholarly work on trauma, healing, and rebuilding solidarities in Europe and the United States, but a dearth of such scholarly work and literature about regions in South Asia, mainland Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
(2021-02-10). South Africa to give up to 500,000 health workers Johnson & Johnson Covid jab amid AstraZeneca efficacy concerns. rt.com 
Between 350,000 and 500,000 health workers in South Africa are to be given the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine, a top government medical adviser said, amid concerns over the AstraZeneca jab's efficacy against the local strain. | The government is hoping to take delivery of around 80,000 doses every seven to 14 days as part of its role in a global J&J "implementation study," the president of the South African Medical Research Council, Glenda Gray, told Reuters. | Gray is the co-lead investigator of the South Africa part of the study, which will further scrutinize the J&J jab in a similar way to Phase IIIB st…
(2021-02-10). A Pro-Cairo Lobby is Spending Big to Make Sure Biden Doesn't Cut Aid to Egypt's Dictatorship. mintpressnews.com President al-Sisi is afraid that his free rein to commit human rights abuses are over now that Trump is out of office, that's why he hired Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck to the tune of $65,000 per month to whitewash his image and keep the American money flowing.
(2021-02-10). Biden should stop payment on US funds to Sisi's Egypt. nationofchange.org They should put a "stop payment" on the U.S. taxpayer-funded check that has enabled Sisi to operate with impunity.
(2021-02-10). Egypt reopens Gaza's Rafah crossing following Hamas and Fatah election deal. middleeasteye.net 
Egypt reopens Gaza's Rafah crossing following Hamas and Fatah election deal | Egyptian authorities allowed travellers in Egypt and Gaza to cross after the two Palestinian parties agreed to respect upcoming election results | Wed, 02/10/2021 – 14: 17 | Palestinians at the reopened Rafah border crossing travel from the Gaza Strip into Egypt on 9 February 2021 (AFP) | Egyptian authorities on Monday reopened the R…
(2021-02-10). Headlines for February 10, 2021. democracynow.org Senate Votes to Proceed with Impeachment as Managers Present Harrowing Video of Jan. 6 Insurrection, Gov't to Send Vaccines to Community Health Centers as U.S. Continues Ramping Up Vaccinations, WHO Team Confirms COVID-19 of Animal Origin; Ghana Shuts Parliament After Outbreak Infects Lawmakers, Protesters in Burma Defy Bans, Escalating Crackdown by Police, Journalists Decry Raid on Progressive Indian News Site NewsClick, U.S. to Pursue Extradition of Julian Assange as Press Freedom Groups Warn of Dangerous Precedent, Fossil Fuel Pollution Causes One in Five Global Deaths, Calls Growing to Shut Down DAPL as Key H…
(2021-02-10). Dawn: Marxism and National Liberation. mronline.org 
Only at the end of his life did Karl Marx leave the shores of Europe and travel to a country under colonial dominion. This was when he went to Algeria in 1882. 'For Mussulmans, there is no such thing as subordination', Marx wrote to his daughter Laura Lafargue.
(2021-02-10). Egypt: New mega-mosque project for administrative capital divides opinions. middleeasteye.net 
Egypt: New mega-mosque project for administrative capital divides opinions | Social media users have both praised and condemned the government's plans to build what it says would be the biggest mosque in the world | Wed, 02/10/2021 – 15: 55 | The mosque is set to be one of the largest in the world, according to Egypt's presidential spokesperson (Screengrab/Facebook) | Egypt's announcement of plans to bui…
(2021-02-10). China, Papua New Guinea and Australia's Backyard Blues. counterpunch.org 
Clever diplomacy rarely involves total commitment or unqualified fidelity to any one state. Treacherous waters require careful navigation, an understanding of shifty and shifting allegiances. The goal for the prudent statesperson is the pursuit of self-interest without alienation. In that regard, Papua New Guinea is proving increasingly interesting, finding itself between playground thugs with varying
(2021-02-10). "Four Hundred Souls": Ibram X. Kendi & Keisha Blain on History of African America from 1619 to Now. democracynow.org 
As the U.S. deals with the aftermath of the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, we speak with Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha Blain, co-editors of a new book that situates the white supremacists who rallied around Trump in the longer arc of U.S. history. "Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019" brings together prominent Black writers to collaborate on what they call a "choral history" of Black American life in 80 short essays, including by the renowned scholar and activist Angela Davis, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and others. "We wanted to bring together so man…
(2021-02-10). "Four Hundred Souls": Ibram X. Kendi & Keisha Blain on African American History from 1619 to Today. democracynow.org As the U.S. deals with the aftermath of the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, we speak with Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha Blain, co-editors of a new book that situates the white supremacists who rallied around Trump in the longer arc of U.S. history. "Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019" brings together prominent Black writers to collaborate on what they call a "choral history" of Black American life in 80 short essays, including by the renowned scholar and activist Angela Davis, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and others. "We wanted to bring together so man…
(2021-02-10). Experts begin tests to determine whether the UK will need to be re-vaccinated. thecanary.co As part of our #FactOfTheMatter series, The Canary explores whether On 6 January, an emerging strain was found from Brazil, making it the latest variant to be reported after South Africa, the UK and…
(2021-02-10). South Africa to reboot vaccination plan with Johnson & Johnson. laprensalatina.com Johannesburg, Feb 10 (efe-epa).- South Africa will restart its halted Covid-19 vaccination program with doses from Johnson & Johnson, according to Health Minister Zweli Mkhize on Wednesday, after the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was found to be less effective against a new variant currently prevalent in the country. "We will soon announce more details about the delivery …
(2021-02-10). French military operation in Sahel under fire at home. yenisafak.com France's future plans in Africa's Sahel region were the focus of heated debate among lawmakers on Tuesday, with top ministers fielding scathing questions as they tried to defend the government's strategy.The French government said last month it will reconsider its plans in the Sahel, where some 5,000 French soldiers have been deployed since 2014 as part of Operation Barkhane, purportedly aimed at eliminating armed groups in the region.The indication of a change in strategy came amid growing criticism sparked by the deaths of five soldiers in attacks by an al-Qaeda linked group during the winter holiday season.Of…
(2021-02-10). School Student Protests in Sudan Reportedly Turn Into Riots. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Protests by Sudanese high school students against rising food prices in the East Darfur and West Kordofan provinces have escalated into robberies and riots, the SUNA news agency reported.
(2021-02-10). Al-Ahly players removed from squad after shaking hands with exiled star Aboutrika. middleeasteye.net 
Al-Ahly players removed from squad after shaking hands with exiled star Aboutrika | Mahmoud Kahraba and Hussein el-Shahat to miss Club World Cup match for breaching Covid-19 regulations by greeting former star | Wed, 02/10/2021 – 13: 52 | Exiled Egyptian football star Mohamed Aboutrika attends a match between former team Al Ahly and Bayern Munich in the Qatari city of Al-Rayyan (Reuters) | Two Al Ahly…
(2021-02-10). Biden's budget nominee Neera Tanden grilled over calling Bernie Sanders 'everything but an ignorant SLUT' at contentious hearing. rt.com 
Neera Tanden, Joe Biden's nominee for budget director, was pressed over her history of insulting tweets and corporate coziness. However, neither party took her to task for suggesting that Libya pay for its own bombing. | Tanden sat before the Senate Budget Committee on Wednesday for her second confirmation hearing, after Tuesday's session with the Homeland Security Committee. This time, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) held the gavel, and questioned Tanden on her history of derogatory statements about him and his progressive supporters. | "Your attacks were not just made against Republicans," Sanders told Tande…
(2021-02-10). Mali: Around 20 UN peacekeepers injured in major attack on MINUSMA base. news.un.org Some 20 UN peacekeepers serving with the UN Stabilization Mission in Mali, MINUSMA, were injured on Wednesday, after their temporary base came under attack in the restive central region of the country.
(2021-02-10). Libya: Security Council urges interim leadership to prepare for December polls. news.un.org The UN Security Council on Tuesday called on the new interim leadership of Libya to swiftly form an inclusive Government and make necessary preparations for December's presidential and parliamentary elections.
(2021-02-10). 25 textile workers in Tangier, Morocco killed in industrial accident in illegal factory. peoplesdispatch.org Heavy rains in the early hours on Monday, February 8, flooded different parts of Tangier in Morocco which led to a short circuit in an illegal textile workshop killing at least 25 workers. The illegal factory is located in the basement of a villa. | Preliminary reports suggest the flood water entered the factory, destroyed machines and caused a short circuit leading to the accident. 10 other workers were also injured. The majority of the dead and the injured are aged between 20 and 40 years and are women. | The search for survivors is still on and the final tally of dead and wounded may change. Following the acci…
(2021-02-10). Rehire the Namibia Rossing Miners! Letter To Chinese President Xi-Jinping. indybay.org Namibia Mineworkers Union Rossing branch union leaders were fired by the Chinese National Nuclear Corporation CNN in a major union busting move. They discuss the illegal actions of the CNN and the corruption in their own national union leadership and then read their letter to President Xi-Jinping. They called on him to rehire the 9 members and end the attacks on Namibian workers.
(2021-02-10). New Authority Expected To Restore Political Stability in Libya. telesurenglish.net As the 10th anniversary of the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi's government (1970-2011) approaches, Libya faces a real chance for restoring political stability, especially with the recent creation of a new executive authority. | RELATED: | On Friday, Libyan parties voted for a new prime minister and a new presidency council, with the support of the United Nations, following months of talks that aimed to end the country's protracted…
(2021-02-09). South Africa To Halt Astrazeneca Vaccine Roll-Out. telesurenglish.net President Cyril Ramaphosa's administration decided to halt AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine roll-out in South Africa after it failed to stop the local strain. | RELATED: | "Suspending the vaccine that's not effective against the country's dominant coronavirus variant is the right decision," commented Angelique Coetzee, Chairperson of South African Medical Association. | "We welcome the move to put the roll-out plan o…
(2021-02-09). African Union Condemns US Blockade Against Cuba. telesurenglish.net Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez welcomed the African Union (AU) unanimous position to reject the economic blockade imposed by the U.S. on the island for almost 60 years. | RELATED: | Following its 34th Ordinary Summit, the AU approved for the twelfth consecutive occasion a resolution supporting the calls by the Cuban government against the U.S. blockade. | AU representatives highlighted that the blockade is the main obstacle…
(2021-02-09). Analysis: Israel's Crimes, Legitimacy and Free Speech. imemc.org 
By Ron Forthofer for the Palestine Chronicle Israel is waging an intense campaign against the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement, a nonviolent campaign called for by Palestinian civil society in 2005. This Movement was modeled on the campaign against South African Apartheid. Palestinians felt compelled to issue the call for a BDS campaign since previous …
(2021-02-09). Reparations, health care and the pandemic. workers.org 
The late John Conyers — U.S. Representative from Michigan and a member of the Congressional Black Caucus — introduced bill HR 40 back in 1989, titled "Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act." New York City protest, Feb. 3. WW PHOTO: Sara Flounders Conyers said, "African slaves were . . . |
(2021-02-09). People with dementia are twice as likely to contract COVID-19, according to new study. salon.com Additionally, the study found that African Americans with dementia are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19…
(2021-02-09). Democrats Disarm Themselves Before Trump's Senate Impeachment Trial. counterpunch.org Donald Trump, has with luck, eluded the consequences of being a failed gambling czar with no respect for the law. But his luck has reached a new level with Congressional Democrats refraining from holding him accountable for breaking the law and violating the Constitution as regularly as the rising and setting of the sun for
(2021-02-09). Egypt Reopens Rafah Crossing Indefinitely. popularresistance.org Egypt today opened the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip until further notice, Egyptian and Palestinian sources said, a move described as an incentive for reconciliation between the main Palestinian factions meeting in Cairo, Reuters reported. | Leaders of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah faction, which controls the West Bank, and of Hamas, which governs the besieged Gaza Strip, began Egyptian-brokered talks yesterday to address long-standing divisions ahead of elections planned for later this year. | The 365 square kilometre (141 square mile) Gaza Strip is home to around two million Palestinian…
(2021-02-09). Palestine: Factions Agreed on Holding Presidential Elections. telesurenglish.net Representatives of Palestinian factions agreed on Tuesday to hold elections within six months after a two-day reconciliation dialogue in Cairo, Egypt. This understanding is set to bridge a 14-year old conflict between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' ruling Fatah and the Hamas organization, which controls the Gaza Strip. | RELATED: | "National partnership is a complete path that starts with the legislative council elections, which is the first stag…
(2021-02-09). Egypt Reopens Border Crossing To Gaza Strip. telesurenglish.net Egypt on Tuesday reopened the Rafah border crossing, which connects the country with the blockaded and bombed Gaza Strip, in order to allow passage in both directions, diplomatic sources announced. | RELATED: | That is the only crossing that is not controlled by Israel to the coastal enclave and its opening on Tuesday will allow the return of settlers to their land and the exit of those who require it, the Palesti…
(2021-02-09). The soup kitchen providing for a town with 93% unemployment. laprensalatina.com The Compassionate Hearts soup kitchen provides food aid for many residents of Touws River in South Africa, which has a 93% unemployment rate, according to humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers Foundation. During the lockdowns for the pandemic, the majority of the town's residents have become unemployed with what few businesses existed now closed. The …
(2021-02-09). Zimbabwe loses another top official to COVID-19. yenisafak.com Zimbabwe lost another top official to COVID-19, the country's president announced Tuesday.Lt-Gen. (Retd) Douglas Nyikayaramba, ambassador to neighboring Mozambique, has died due to COVID-19, President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced during a cabinet briefing Tuesday morning, the national broadcaster reported.His death comes a day after Mnangagwa made some cabinet changes, filling the vacant posts after three ministers' death due to COVID-19.Two ministers died last month when the second wave of the COVID-19 struck, killing nearly 1,000 people in less than two months.Following these deaths, the Southern Africa country…
(2021-02-09). Egypt opens Gaza crossing in both directions. yenisafak.com Egypt on Tuesday opened the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip for the movement of travelers in both directions, according to the Hamas-run Interior Ministry.A ministry statement said that "passenger buses began to leave the crossing, while returnees will arrive at noon".It is unclear how many days the crossing will remain open.Palestinian factions are currently holding dialogue in Cairo on preparations for elections.Last week, Egypt opened the crossing for four days in both directions.Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in March, Egypt and Hamas agreed to close the crossing. The terminal was sp…
(2021-02-09). Zimbabwe fills cabinet slots created by COVID-19. yenisafak.com Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa late Monday night filled the cabinet slots that fell vacant because of ministers' death due to coronavirus last month.The Zimbabwean leader appointed Fredrick Shava, the country's ambassador to the United Nations, as minister for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, replacing Sibusiso Moyo, who died of coronavirus last month.Felix Tapiwa Mhona, a parliamentarian from Chikomba Central district in the country's East Province Mashonaland, has been appointed transport minister, replacing late Joel Biggie Matiza with the novel coronavirus last month.Nokhuthula Matsikenyeri,…
(2021-02-09). Amid internal meltdown at New York Times, '1619 Project' creator doxxes reporter for digging into her own racially charged tweets. rt.com 
In the New York Times' latest internal scrap, the paper's leading advocate for critical race theory allegedly doxxed a reporter for calling out her hypocrisy, after a veteran journalist was forced out for using "the N-word." | Donald McNeil Jr., the New York Times' top reporter on the Covid-19 pandemic, resigned last week. McNeil, it had been revealed, used a racial slur while on a trip to Peru with students in 2009. McNeil simply repeated the term after a student inquired about its usage, and the paper backed him up, saying he had no malicious intent. Nevertheless, he resigned after 150 employees demanded he…
(2021-02-09). FROM THE FIELD: Teaching Chad's scientists of the future. news.un.org The study of science could have a "transformational" impact on young people living in different conflict areas across the world according to the UN's Education Cannot Wait programme.
(2021-02-09). Turkey trains Libyan troops on counter-terrorism. yenisafak.com The Turkish Armed Forces continue to provide counter-terrorism training to the Libyan Armed Forces, the Turkish National Defense Ministry said on Tuesday."As part of the military training, assistance and advice agreement, we continue to provide training to the Libyan Armed Forces. Our personnel are providing 'Basic Counter-Terrorism Training' to the Libyan soldiers in the Homs Joint Maritime Training Center Command," the ministry said on Twitter.On Nov. 27, 2019, Ankara and Tripoli signed two memorandums of understanding: one on military cooperation and the other on maritime boundaries of countries in the Eastern…
(2021-02-09). "I wanted to be waterboarded for real," says "The Mauritanian" star on playing a Guantanamo detainee. salon.com Salon spoke to Tahar Rahim who went to great, physically uncomfortable lengths to play a man accused of terrorism…
(2021-02-09). Third round of Libya constitutional talks starts in Egypt. yenisafak.com A third round of Libya's dialogue on the constitutional track kicked off in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Hurghada on Tuesday, days after the election of a new interim authority in the war-torn country. | Egypt's intelligence chief Abbas Kamel and the recently-appointed UN Special Envoy on Libya and Head of the United Nations Support Mission (UNSMIL), Jan Kubis, addressed the opening session. | "The Libyan Constitutional Committee will discuss arrangements for holding a popular referendum on a new constitution," committee member Naema Elhammi told Anadolu Agency. | She said the committee meetings will continue for th…
(2021-02-09). Neoliberal Authoritarianism in Egypt. dissidentvoice.org The whiplash of authoritarianism is being ruthlessly used in Egypt. On January 6, 2021, Ahmed Khalifa, social news editor of Egypt 360 website, was arrested after publishing a series of reports on workers' legitimate protests. He was falsely charged with joining a terrorist group and spreading fake news, and remains in detention to date. Before his arrest, Khalifa …
(2021-02-09). UK dismisses UN Maritime Court ruling that it has no claim to Chagos Islands/Diego Garcia. wsws.org The maritime court confirmed the legitimacy of Mauritius's claim to the Chagos Islands, calling Britain's continuing administration of the islands "unlawful" and criticised its failure to hand the islands back. The ruling implies that the UK's leasing of Diego Garcia to the US is also illegal.
(2021-02-08). Brits Told to Expect to Take a Third Vaccine Jab in the Autumn. anti-empire.com 
A health minister today signalled that millions of Britons can expect to get a third injection of Covid-19 vaccine this year to halt the South African mutation and other new variants. | Ed Argar said an autumn booster was being developed to "outwit" a virus that is constantly evolving to beat human defences. | The development came as South Africa suspended its mass roll-out of the AstraZeneca / Oxford vaccine following a small-scale study of younger volunteers that suggested it did not prevent transmission of the new variant or mild-to-moderate illness. Experts warned that the South African strain could prolong s…