(2021-01-07). Global wildlife trading body under fire over highly questionable Asian elephant exports. thecanary.co 
2020 was a bumpy year for the
(2021-01-07). Re-Plug: 28 Protests in 22 days! Kranti ka Naqsha (Mapping the Revolution) Brings the Latest Updates. asia-pacificresearch.com …
(2021-01-07). "Americans Are Now Getting a Mild Taste of Their Own Medicine" of Disrupting Democracy Elsewhere. democracynow.org 
World leaders reacted in horror over the storming of the U.S. Capitol, with the U.N. secretary-general calling on political leaders to demand their followers refrain from violence. Leaders of the U.K., New Zealand, Australia, Canada, India, Japan, France, Germany, NATO and the European Council called for a peaceful transfer of power to Joe Biden. Investigative journalist Allan Nairn looks at what steps Trump may take next, and says despite protestations from President-elect Joe Biden and others that the insurrection was "not who we are," the U.S. has a long track record of disrupting democratic processes elsewher…
(2021-01-07). Qatar and GCC Detente? In the Wake of a Three Year Blockade Imposed by Saudi Arabia. globalresearch.ca The unexpected detente between Qatar and its GCC partners saw the full restoration of political ties between them following the end of the over three-year-long blockade against the peninsular nation, but speculation remain about the future of their reconciliation considering …
(2021-01-07). UAE to resume trade and travel with Qatar within a week. middleeasteye.net 
UAE to resume trade and travel with Qatar within a week | Emirati foreign minister said restoring full diplomatic relations would take time as trust issues linger | Thu, 01/07/2021 – 12: 13 | UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum signing a document during the opening session of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in the Saudi city of al-Ula, 5 January 2021 (AFP)…
(2021-01-07). New book: Indonesia was model for anti-communist massacres, U.S. complicity. peoplesworld.org 
U.S imperialism was on a roll in the mid-20th century as Cold War problems were emerging. These included U.S.-Soviet conflict, nuclear-war fears, the Korean and Vietnam wars, domestic anti-communism, and Indonesia. Having thrown of Dutch colonial rule, that country led by President Sukarno was in the vanguard of nations striving to steer clear of both …
(2021-01-07). In "Pieces of a Woman," Vanessa Kirby survives the worst in a heartbreaking, measured performance. salon.com Kornél Mundruczó's film addresses the fragmentation of a life after losing a child at birth…
(2021-01-07). Saudi Arabia: UN rights expert welcomes 'positive first step' toward détente in Gulf. news.un.org Saudi Arabia's action in lifting sanctions against Qatar is a "positive first step" towards normalized relations in the Gulf region, a UN independent human rights expert said on Thursday, urging the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt to follow suit.
(2021-01-07). Sri Lankan president orders all state employees to commit to his election manifesto. wsws.org These preparations of Rajapakse are aimed at cementing his autocratic rule and taking on the working class.
(2021-01-06). [Research Paper] Descriptive epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Karnataka state, South India: Transmission dynamics of symptomatic vs. asymptomatic infections. thelancet.com Our findings indicate that both asymptomatic and symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 cases transmit the infection, although symptomatic cases were the main driving force within the state during the beginning of the pandemic. Considering the large proportion of asymptomatic cases, their ability to spread infection cannot be overlooked. Notwithstanding the limitations and bias in identifying asymptomatic cases, the findings have major implications for testing policies. Active search, early testing and treatment of symptomatic elderly patients with comorbidities should be prioritized for containing the spread of COVID-19 and red…
(2021-01-06). Deadly car bomb attacks 'tragic reminder' of price civilians pay in Syria. news.un.org The killing of civilians in separate car bomb attacks in northern Syria on Saturday has been condemned by top UN humanitarian officials for the country.
(2021-01-06). Citing 'Open Sedition,' Rep. Ilhan Omar Vows Trump Impeachment Resolution. commondreams.org "Today, I watched as armed terrorists stormed the United States Capitol," the Minnesota congresswoman wrote. "We should not mince words about what this was: a coup attempt." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/barb.jpg …
(2021-01-06). Arabic press review: Regional media reacts to end of Qatar blockade. middleeasteye.net 
Arabic press review: Regional media reacts to end of Qatar blockade | How has Middle East media interpreted Tuesday's deal ending Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the UAE's embargo on Doha? | Wed, 01/06/2021 – 12: 01 | GCC secretary general Abdullatif al-Zayani and Bahraini diplomat Hamad Al-Amer, right, at a press conference in 2013 (AFP) | Bahraini diplomat attacks Gulf reconciliation:…
(2021-01-06). FROM THE FIELD: Port explosion which 'burnt hearts' of Beirut residents. news.un.org Five months on from the devastating port explosion that killed over 200 people, and injured thousands more, the UN has invited Beirut residents to share their hopes and fears for the future of the city, and for Lebanon, which remains in crisis.
(2021-01-06). How the System Kept Failing the Only Woman on Federal Death Row. thenation.com How the System Kept Failing the Only Woman on Federal Death Row…
(2021-01-05). FROM THE FIELD: Weathering a tourist downturn in Kyrgyzstan. news.un.org The residents of a small traditional village high in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia, which once attracted a steady stream of visitors, are learning how to adapt to the reality of a world where the COVID-19 pandemic has all but frozen out the opportunities provided by tourism.
(2021-01-05). Filipino lawmakers and activists demand inquiry into recent killings of Indigenous leaders. peoplesdispatch.org Legislators of the left-wing Makabayan bloc have called for an investigation by the Philippines House of Representatives into the recent mass killings of Tumandok community leaders on December 30…
(2021-01-05). Saudi Arabia and Qatar end years-long row with border reopening, resumption of ties. rt.com 
Full ties have been restored between Saudi Arabia and Qatar after hugs were exchanged between leaders of the two nations at the annual Gulf Cooperation Council summit on Tuesday, ending their three-year-diplomatic dispute. | Riyadh and its allies, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain, have agreed to resume relations with Doha, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud told a news conference. | It follows the announcement by Kuwait — a mediator of the talks — on Monday that the four Arab nations would reopen their land, sea and air borders with Qatar. | The countries had cut Qatar…
(2021-01-05). Qatar blockade: Saudi deal raises questions about prisoners, flight paths and bots. middleeasteye.net 
Qatar blockade: Saudi deal raises questions about prisoners, flight paths and bots | As Saudi Arabia declares the lifting of the three-year land and air blockade on its Gulf neighbour, many issues remain to be resolved | Tue, 01/05/2021 – 14: 05 | Many people have raised questions on what the end of the Saudi blockade will mean for prisoners, flight paths and the Saudi bot network (Screengrab/social medi…
(2021-01-05). India's Farm Crisis: "Farming is Our Religion, We Love to Feed People'. counterpunch.org 
"Gharo jao rajj ke, kaam hoga gajj ke [If you leave the house with a stomach full of food, you will ace your mission]." That's Bilawal Singh's simple philosophy of running a langar for protesting farmers at Shahjahanpur. "This government is used to dealing with hungry protestors," he continues, speaking in Punjabi. "Let's see how
(2021-01-05). [Commentary] Vaccinating cassandra. thelancet.com Receiving the first of two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was a more emotional experience than I anticipated. I'm a vaccinologist co-leading a team of scientists developing a potential recombinant protein COVID-19 vaccine for global health [1]. Vaccine production, manufacture, and distribution is led by Biological E (BioE) in India where it is being widely tested, with the aspirational goal that it might fill an urgently needed gap in low-cost COVID-19 vaccines for low- and middle-income countries [2].
(2021-01-05). COVID-19 spreads at Allison Transmission auto parts plant in Indiana. wsws.org New cases of COVID-19 have been accelerating in recent weeks at the Indianapolis, Indiana plant, according to data shared by workers.
(2021-01-05). Brazil Detects Its First Two Cases of the UK Coronavirus Strain. telesurenglish.net Brazil's health authorities Monday confirmed in Sao Paulo the first two cases of patients infected by the new British COVID-19 strain. | RELATED: | The state-owned Adolfo Lutz Institute's Strategic Laboratory confirmed the cases after performing the genetic sequencing of samples sent by Sao Paulo's DASA private laboratory. | A 25-year-old woman is one patient affected by the new strain. She was infected after having contact wi…
(2021-01-05). Sri Lanka prison massacre autopsy confirms victims were shot. wsws.org After the bloodbath, the Rajapakse government is taking further measures to tighten the repressive conditions in prisons.
(2021-01-05). Syria: 'Identified gaps, inconsistencies' raise questions over elimination of chemical weapons. news.un.org "Identified gaps, inconsistencies and discrepancies" that remain unresolved, have brought into question the true extent of the elimination of chemical weapons during Syria's bloody conflict, the UN disarmament chief told the Security Council in her briefing on Tuesday.
(2021-01-05). Mexico and Four Other Countries Join the UN Security Council. telesurenglish.net Mexico, India, Ireland, Kenya, and Norway on Monday began to assume responsibilities as non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). | RELATED: | While their two-year term officially started on Jan. 1, Monday is the first working day of the council for 2021 after the Christmas and New Year break. A flag installation ceremony was held to mark the start of their responsibilities. | Kazakh UN a…
(2021-01-05). Brutal Human Rights Abuses: Torture, Sanctions and Failure to Address "Economic Rights" globalresearch.ca "Wrong things are done in the name of Islam, worse things are being done in the name of democracy and human rights" (Dr. Mohamed Mahathir, former Malaysian Prime Minister(1)) | Torture — Legal Black Holes | Some philosophers have suggested that …