Peoples Dispatch (2021-03-26). Algerian Supreme Court overturns conviction of journalist Khaled Drareni, orders retrial. peoplesdispatch.org Drareni was arrested last year in March and was detained without charge or trial while he was covering the Hirak protests in the country. He was charged with "inciting an unarmed gathering" and "endangering national unity"

B. Nimri Aziz (2021-03-26). Nawal El-Saadawi and the Barriers of Patriarchy. counterpunch.org I often quote one simple statement by Nawal El-Saadawi— a bold and brilliant retort to a question put to her by an NPR radio host many years ago. A lesson for me, but for many others too. I was accompanying the Egyptian writer to the Manhattan studio of the national radio network, and sat behind

WSWS (2021-03-26). Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa. wsws.org Pharmacists strike in Lebanon as economy collapses; UK bus strike at Go North West Manchester depot in fifth week; further strike planned by UK energy workers; French workers at Renault foundry strike against closure…

Center For Biological Diversity (2021-03-26). Elephants in Africa Face Grave Extinction Threat, New Expert Assessment Finds. globalresearch.ca In a long-awaited move, the International Union for Conservation of Nature …

MEE, agencies (2021-03-26). Suez Canal: Ship owner aims to free ship 'tomorrow night'. middleeasteye.net Suez Canal: Ship owner aims to free ship 'tomorrow night' | Report in Japanese newspaper comes despite salvage experts warning the rescue operation could last days or even weeks | Fri, 03/26/2021 – 09: 31 | Global shipping giant Maersk and Germany's Hapag-Lloyd both said on Thursday that they were looking into going around Africa (AFP) | Shoei Kisen, the Japanese owner of the container shi…

MEE, agencies (2021-03-26). Egypt: Dozens killed by passenger trains colliding. middleeasteye.net Egypt: Dozens killed by passenger trains colliding | Social media users share horrific images from the scene of the crash, with victims screaming for rescue | Fri, 03/26/2021 – 11: 15 | "> | Two passenger trains collided in the south of Egypt on Friday causing dozens of casualties, the health ministry said. | The incident took place in the village of al-Sawamaa…

Staff (2021-03-26). Headlines for March 26, 2021. democracynow.org:443 Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Signs Sweeping Bill to Suppress African American Vote , Georgia Lawmaker Arrested on Felony Charges for Knocking on Governor's Office Door in Protest, President Biden Says U.S. Unlikely to Honor May 1 Afghanistan Withdrawal Deadline, U.S. COVID-19 Cases Rise as Biden Doubles Vaccine Goal to 200 Million Shots in 100 Days, Mexico's Official COVID-19 Death Toll Tops 200,000; True Toll Could Be 50% Higher , ISIS-Linked Prisoners in Syria Face Conditions That Amount to Torture, Says Human Rights Watch , Netanyahu Fails to Clinch Israeli Election as Extreme-Right Party Gains Seats, Suez Canal Bl…

Juan Cole (2021-03-26). Why the Suez Cana is so Important to the Global Economy. zcomm.org The canal is a major money earner for Egypt and it has become a major artery of world trade…

Dave DeCamp (2021-03-26). Pentagon Official Says Moving Troops Out of Somalia Had 'Significant Downsides'. news.antiwar.com On Thursday, "From my perspective, there is probably significant downsides to the pullout from the perspective of cost and effectiveness," Christopher Maier, the acting assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict, told the Senate Armed Services Committee. | The Biden…

_____ (2021-03-25). End Vaccine Apartheid. popularresistance.org The latest in a series of proposals brought by India and South Africa to the World Trade Organization (WTO), backed by over 100 countries, to temporarily suspend COVID-19 vaccine patents was blocked by western powers, namely the United States, United Kingdom, and the European Union. The patents that give monopoly rights over the manufacture and sale of drugs like the COVID-19 vaccines are protected globally by The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), signed in 1994 by the WTO.

MEE correspondent (2021-03-25). Suez Canal: Egypt says blockage to end soon amid fears of knock-on effects. middleeasteye.net Suez Canal: Egypt says blockage to end soon amid fears of knock-on effects | Meanwhile, experts warn that an extended crisis could partially threaten energy supplies around the world and force international maritime lines to seek alternative routes | Thu, 03/25/2021 – 15: 26 | An Egyptian official checking the operation trying to free Taiwan-owned cargo MV Ever Given lodged sideways and…

MEE correspondent (2021-03-25). Suez Canal: Dislodging the Ever Given could take 'weeks', says salvage company. middleeasteye.net Suez Canal: Dislodging the Ever Given could take 'weeks', says salvage company | Experts warn delays could threaten energy supplies around the world and force international maritime lines to seek alternative routes | Thu, 03/25/2021 – 15: 26 | An Egyptian official checking the operation trying to free Taiwan-owned MV Ever Given, which is lodged sideways and impeding all traffic through…

Nur Ayoubi (2021-03-25). Suez Canal blockage unleashes tsunami of memes. middleeasteye.net Suez Canal blockage unleashes tsunami of memes | From pop culture references to the pandemic, here's how the internet reacted to the 'beached whale' ship blocking the vital trade route | Thu, 03/25/2021 – 13: 24 | The internet was quick to put its own spin on the images which emerged of the ship blocking the canal (AFP) | A 400-metre long container ship named Ever Given has blocked Egypt's Suez Canal since…

MEE, agencies (2021-03-25). Suez Canal: Specialist salvage teams join efforts to refloat ship as traffic suspended. middleeasteye.net Suez Canal: Specialist salvage teams join efforts to refloat ship as traffic suspended | Teams from the Netherlands and Japan hired to devise a plan to refloat giant container ship blocking global trade route | Thu, 03/25/2021 – 08: 15 | Stranded container ship Ever Given, one of the world's largest container ships, is seen after it ran aground in the Suez Canal (Reuters) | Salvage teams f…

MEE, agencies (2021-03-25). Suez Canal: Traffic suspended as ship stranded like 'beached whale'. middleeasteye.net Suez Canal: Traffic suspended as ship stranded like 'beached whale' | Company trying to free ship says operation could take weeks with owner facing millions of dollars in insurance claims | Thu, 03/25/2021 – 08: 15 | Stranded container ship Ever Given, one of the world's largest container ships, is seen after it ran aground in the Suez Canal (Reuters) | The Suez Canal temporarily suspended…

MEE, agencies (2021-03-25). Suez Canal: Salvage teams join efforts to refloat ship as traffic suspended. middleeasteye.net Suez Canal: Salvage teams join efforts to refloat ship as traffic suspended | Teams from the Netherlands and Japan hired to devise a plan to refloat giant container ship blocking global trade route | Thu, 03/25/2021 – 08: 15 | Stranded container ship Ever Given, one of the world's largest container ships, is seen after it ran aground in the Suez Canal (Reuters) | Salvage teams from the Net…

MEE staff (2021-03-25). Suez Canal: What you need to know about Ever Given, the ship that blocked the passage. middleeasteye.net Suez Canal: What you need to know about Ever Given, the ship that blocked the passage | Divers and tugboats are trying to disloge the giant vessel, but it may be weeks before it can set sail again | Thu, 03/25/2021 – 16: 01 | Egyptian tugboats trying to help free one of the biggest vessels in the world from the banks of the Suez canal, on 25 March 2021 (Suez Canal/AFP) | A megaship, one of the largest on earth…

MEE, agencies (2021-03-25). Suez Canal: Ship stuck like a 'beached whale' as rescue efforts continue. middleeasteye.net Suez Canal: Ship stuck like a 'beached whale' as rescue efforts continue | Company trying to free ship says operation could take weeks with owner facing millions of dollars in insurance claims | Thu, 03/25/2021 – 08: 15 | The ship is blocking transit in both directions through one of the world's busiest shipping channel (AFP/Planet Labs) | Efforts to dislodge the 400m long container vessel…

MEE staff (2021-03-25). Libya demands 'immediate' withdrawal of foreign fighters. middleeasteye.net Libya demands 'immediate' withdrawal of foreign fighters | France, Germany and Italy echo demand during visit to Tripoli in support of new unity government | Thu, 03/25/2021 – 17: 43 | Libyan Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush spoke at a news conference in Tripoli, joined by her French, German and Italian counterparts (AFP) | Libya's new unity government on Thursday called for the "immediate" withdrawal of all…

RT (2021-03-25). Media blame Iran as missile hits Israeli-owned ship in Arabian Sea. rt.com An Israeli-owned container ship was hit and damaged by an Iranian missile in the Arabian Sea on Thursday, unconfirmed reports by the Israeli media claim. | The ship was reportedly struck as it traveled from Tanzania to India, Israel's Channel 12 reported. The broadcaster said the ship was targeted by an Iranian missile, but did not give more information. | The vessel in question was the Lori, a container ship sailing under the Liberian flag, but owned by Haifa-based company XT Management, other reports said.It was heading from Dar es Salaam in Tanzania to India's Port of Mundra. | The route taken by the Israel…