(2021-01-13). Ethiopia conflict: Outrage over damage to Tigray mosque. middleeasteye.net 
Ethiopia conflict: Outrage over damage to Tigray mosque | Details of the damage inflicted on the al-Nejashi mosque – believed to be one of the oldest mosques in Africa – took weeks to emerge | Wed, 01/13/2021 – 14: 48 | Images emerged on 1 January showing damage reportedly inflicted on the seventh-century al-Nejashi mosque in November in Ethiopia's Tigray region (Supplied) | The conflic…
(2021-01-13). Tunisian MPs begin hunger strike over violence in parliament. middleeasteye.net 
Tunisian MPs begin hunger strike over violence in parliament | Brawl during session on women's issues left MP Samia Abbou unconscious | Wed, 01/13/2021 – 12: 03 | Samia Abbou was allegedly attacked by members of the al-Karama coalition during the parliamentary brawl (AFP) | Four Tunisian MPs have begun a hunger strike in protest against a brawl in parliament that left one of them unconscio…
(2021-01-13). Insecurity and bureaucracy hampering aid to Ethiopia's Tigray region. news.un.org Nearly three months after the start of conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray region, hundreds of thousands of people have yet to receive assistance, the United Nations reported on Wednesday, citing information from its humanitarian coordination agency, OCHA.
(2021-01-13). Saudi-led Embargoes Against Qatar Failed. globalresearch.ca 2021 began with a historic decision in the Middle East as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt decided to end their diplomatic and economic embargo against Qatar. The decision to end the embargo, that has been …
(2021-01-13). Reviewing Kim Scipes' Building Global Labor Solidarity. zcomm.org Workers in South Africa and the Philippines were able to accomplish the unimaginable under circumstances far worse than the ones we encounter in the U.S. For me, this is a source of great inspiration…
(2021-01-13). Mali transition presents opportunity to break 'vicious circle of political crises'. news.un.org The current political transition period in Mali offers an opportunity to "break out of the vicious circle of political crises followed by coups d'état", the UN envoy in the country told the Security Council on Wednesday.
(2021-01-13). Uganda: UN chief calls for 'inclusive, transparent and peaceful' elections. news.un.org The UN chief on Wednesday issued a call for an "inclusive, transparent and peaceful" election process across Uganda, a day ahead of the polls opening.
(2021-01-13). Peacekeeper killed in 'heinous attacks' in Central African Republic. news.un.org The UN Secretary-General has called for action to ensure accountability for "heinous attacks" in the Central African Republic (CAR) on Wednesday that left a Rwandan peacekeeper dead and another wounded.
(2021-01-13). On eve of Ugandan elections, presidential contender Bobi Wine faces renewed persecution. peoplesdispatch.org Bobi Wine, the leading opposition candidate, has continuously faced attacks and repression in his attempt to unseat long-term president Yoweri Museveni in the elections that will be held on January 14…
(2021-01-12). A Russian Strain: Covid-19 found to have mutated 18 different times in one person, with some never seen before. rt.com 
A Russian woman with a malignant lymphoma, who battled Covid-19 for five months, was found to have 18 different mutations of the virus inside her body. She first caught it in April and last tested positive in September. | The revelation was made last week, when Russian scientists published their research on Virological, a discussion forum for analysis and interpretation of virus molecular evolution and epidemiology. Contributors from four universities and one hospital analyzed the woman's genome and found two of the Danish 'mink mutations,' as well as one recently discovered in the UK. | With so many changes,…
(2021-01-12). Egypt: Prison sentences overturned for TikTok influencers. middleeasteye.net 
Egypt: Prison sentences overturned for TikTok influencers | Young women originally convicted of 'violating public morals' in case internationally condemned | Tue, 01/12/2021 – 14: 39 | The Egyptian content creators were originally charged with 'violating public morals' (AFP) | Cairo's Economic Appeals Court overturned the prison sentences of TikTok content creators Haneen Hossam and Mowada al-Adham on Tu…
(2021-01-12). Gym, spa and snooker: Egyptians condemn 'seven-star prison' for Mubarak officials. middleeasteye.net 
Gym, spa and snooker: Egyptians condemn 'seven-star prison' for Mubarak officials | Former prisoner reveals Mubarak's sons and aides were in luxury jails, prompting accusations of discrimination against prisoners of conscience | Tue, 01/12/2021 – 14: 49 | Alaa (left) and Gamal Mubarak, the sons of ousted president Hosni Mubarak, arrive for their trial on corruption charges in Cairo, 9 July 2012. They were rele…
(2021-01-12). The Moroccans of Jerusalem shocked by Rabat normalisation with Israel. middleeasteye.net 
The Moroccans of Jerusalem shocked by Rabat normalisation with Israel | Residents of the destroyed Old City neighbourhood recall the long history of their community as they reflect on Morocco's newly official ties with Israel | Tue, 01/12/2021 – 09: 59 | Abd al-Latif Sayyid, a member of Jerusalem's Moroccan-Palestinian community, was disappointed by news of Rabat's normalisation with Israel (MEE/As…
(2021-01-12). US backs al-Qaeda in Yemen while dubbing its Houthi enemies 'terrorists'. thegrayzone.com The US State Department designated Yemen's Houthi movement — the most effective force in fighting al-Qaeda — as a "terrorist" organization. Meanwhile Washington and Saudi Arabia have supported al-Qaeda. The United States government has designated the main enemy of al-Qaeda in Yemen, the Houthi movement, as a terrorist organization, after spending years backing al-Qaeda in the country. Like the US-led wars on Syria, Libya, former Yugoslavia, and 1980s Afghanistan, Yemen represents an example of an armed conflict where Washington has …
(2021-01-12). Humanitarian crisis looms in Madagascar amid drought and pandemic. news.un.org In southern Madagascar, "famine-like conditions" have doubled the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance compared with last year, to more than 1.3 million. Successive droughts and a lack of jobs linked to COVID-19 restrictions are to blame, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday.
(2021-01-12). Use of Force Undermines Elections in Uganda, UN Warns. telesurenglish.net European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Policy Josep Borrell on Tuesday said that the "excessive" use of force by security agencies is "seriously" tarnishing Thursday's elections in Uganda. | RELATED: | Over 17.6 million Ugandans are called to the polls in an election that culminates a presidential campaign marked by police repression. On this occasion, the electoral contest is between President Yoweri Museve…
(2021-01-12). Amid political chaos, people's issues take a backseat in Ghana. peoplesdispatch.org Kwesi Pratt Jnr. of Pan African Television talks about the political situation in Ghana in the aftermath of last month's presidential and parliamentary elections and the issues faced by the people amid this chaos…
(2021-01-11). Japan notifies WHO of new Covid-19 variant found in travelers arriving from Brazil. rt.com 
The World Health Organization (WHO) has said it was notified by Japan about the detection of a new Covid-19 variant there, as the government extends the state of emergency declared to control the virus in Tokyo to other areas. | WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday that the Japanese health authorities had informed the UN health agency of the new strain at the weekend, after it was detected in four travelers from Brazil's Amazonas state. | The variant has 12 mutations, one of which has been found in the strains discovered in South Africa and the UK. The Brazilian Health Ministry said t…
(2021-01-11). UAE open to normalising relations with Turkey, top diplomat says. middleeasteye.net 
UAE open to normalising relations with Turkey, top diplomat says | Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash says normalisation deal would 'respect mutual sovereignty', but also calls on Turkey to halt 'support to Muslim Brotherhood' | Mon, 01/11/2021 – 19: 50 | The UAE's foreign affairs minister, Anwar Gargash, said Turkey could 'recalibrate its relations with Arabs' if it were to cut off its 'suppo…
(2021-01-11). US begins process to establish consulate in disputed Western Sahara. middleeasteye.net 
US begins process to establish consulate in disputed Western Sahara | American ambassador to Morocco makes visit to Western Sahara port city of Dakhla | Mon, 01/11/2021 – 15: 29 | The US recognised Rabat's claim to Western Sahara on same day Morocco announced it would normalise ties with Israel (AFP) | The United States ambassador to Morocco began the process of establishing a consulate in the disputed territo…
(2021-01-11). Millions Of Palestinian Refugees Suffer As UN Aid Is Collapsing. thelastamericanvagabond.com This Saturday, rumours began to spread amongst Palestinians on social media of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) cutting aid to 400,000 refugees living in the Gaza Strip. This coupled with the lack of funds available to the UN Agency have sparked anxiety that the situation in the illegally besieged Gaza Strip will
(2021-01-11). The UN to Accelerate Political and Military Dialogue in Libya. telesurenglish.net The United Nations Special Mission for Libya (UNSMIL) will speed up its activity to ensure the ceasefire and promote the formation of a new transitional government and elections in December. | RELATED: | UNSMIL Deputy Head Stephanie Williams will preside over virtual meetings of the Libyan Forum for Political Dialogue (FLDP), an "ad hoc" institution formed by 75 elected officials from all over Libya with whom the UN has been wo…
(2021-01-11). Uganda Beefs up Security in Its Capital City Ahead of Polls. telesurenglish.net Uganda's military and police have stepped up security in and around Kampala ahead of the presidential and parliamentary elections slated for this Thursday. | RELATED: | "The campaign period is coming to an end and we are now proceeding to the next level of voting. We have now upgraded our security and deployed police officers who are being supported by the army," Patrick Onyango, Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson said. | There a…