(2021-01-01). As South African Climate Justice Veterans Fall, Consciousness Begins Reviving, From Below and Across. counterpunch.org 
As South African climate justice veterans fall, consciousness begins reviving, from below and across Deaths of four frontline KwaZulu-Natal activists — and latest Durban oil refinery explosion — define 2021 battlegrounds On three days last week — December 23-25 — South Africa's east coast province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) lost three of its clearest voices for
(2021-01-01). As South African climate justice veterans fall, consciousness begins reviving, from below and across. mronline.org 
On three days last week—December 23-25—South Africa's east coast province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) lost three of its clearest voices for social justice and environmental sanity: rural women's leader Sizani Ngubane (74), trade unionist Patrick Mkhize (60) and progressive activist Faith ka-Manzi (52).
(2021-01-01). UN calls for international monitors to oversee Libya ceasefire. middleeasteye.net 
UN calls for international monitors to oversee Libya ceasefire | Antonio Guterres called for the African Union, European Union and Arab League to contribute civilians and retired soldiers | Fri, 01/01/2021 – 17: 01 | Antonio Guterres called on all nations to respect the UN arms embargo on Libya (Reuters) | The United Nations is calling for international monitors to support a fragile ceasef…
(2021-01-01). Sudan declares full control of border territory settled by Ethiopians. middleeasteye.net 
Sudan declares full control of border territory settled by Ethiopians | After weeks of clashes, Sudan says it now controls all its territory in the al-Fashqa area settled by Ethiopian farmers | Fri, 01/01/2021 – 10: 45 | Sudan's General Abdelfattah al-Burhan said his troops had not left the country's territory and that Khartoum was looking to solve the issue of trespassing farmers through…
(2021-01-01). The power of soil: How our precarious climate shaped the Arab Spring. middleeasteye.net 
The power of soil: How our precarious climate shaped the Arab Spring | Fri, 01/01/2021 – 18: 40 | The history of the Middle East, and the recent teachings of the 2010-11 uprisings, highlight an important lesson: Ignore ecological integrity at your peril | In 149 BC, Marcus Porcius Cato – a politician, soldier and citizen dedicated to the study of agriculture – saw a major goal realised when Rome
(2021-01-01). Drone Murder Has Been Normalized. counterpunch.org If I search on Google for the words "drones" and "morality" most of the results are from 2012 through 2016. If I search for "drones" and "ethics" I get a bunch of articles from 2017 to 2020. Reading the various websites confirms the obvious hypothesis that (as a rule, with plenty of exceptions) "morality" is
(2021-01-01). The African Continental Free Trade Area Is in Effect From Today. telesurenglish.net The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) went into operation on January 1 with the aspiration of becoming the world's largest single market. | RELATED: | "The African Continental Free Trade Area will change the economic fortunes of our continent," said South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is also the leader of the African Union (AU). | At the virtual launch ceremony, the AfCFTA Secretary Wamkele Mene…
(2021-01-01). 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.
(2021-01-01). Welcome 2021! Go Away, 2020! commondreams.org Four years of the worst, most malicious, most demagogic, most crooked, most lying president in American history will come to an end in less than three weeks. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/gettyimages-1269284605.jpg …
(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). South Africa: COVID-19 cases soar with little prospect of widespread vaccination. wsws.org The situation in South Africa is replicated in a second wave of the pandemic that is sweeping across much of the continent, which has seen a steady rise in infections since November…
(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). Egyptian man sentenced for sexual offenses in case that sparked nationwide movement. peoplesdispatch.org Allegations against Ahmed Bassam Zaki were first brought to light by the whistleblower account 'Assault Police' on Instagram and Twitter, and included heinous crimes like child molestation, sexual assault and rape…
(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). 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). 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). "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). 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). 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). 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.
(2020-12-30). 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 …
(2020-12-29). 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). 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). 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…