(2020-12-19). The pandemic, complicating already vulnerable lives. laprensalatina.com By Noemí Jabois Beirut, Dec 19 (efe-epa).- The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated some of the most acute humanitarian crises on the planet, from the conflicts in Syria and Yemen, food shortages in the central Sahel and southern Africa to terror activity in the Chad Basin. It is not the virus itself wreaking havoc in these …
(2020-12-19). How long will Peru last? History weighs on today's events. workers.org 
By Sergio Rodriguez Gelfenstein The writer was the director of international relations in Venezuela's presidential office and the country's ambassador to Nicaragua. Currently, he is a guest professor at Shanghai University in China. This article was posted at sergioro07.blogspot.com on Nov. 13. Translation: Michael Otto. Mariategui's magazine, Amauta. Credit: Juan . . . |
(2020-12-19). Scary 'R' Us 3 — The Exaggerated Threat of Weapons of Mass Destruction. zcomm.org The term WMD is propaganda to confuse chemical weapons with nuclear weapons, in order to exaggerate a threat…
(2020-12-18). Under Guise of Green Energy, Israel Entrenches Itself in Syria's Golan Heights. mintpressnews.com 
If Israeli energy firm Energix is successful, a sprawling complex of wind turbines will soon cover up to a quarter of the agricultural land still under the control of Syria's indigenous Golan residents.
(2020-12-18). NYTimes retracts 'Caliphate' podcast & reassigns reporter, admitting star 'ISIS executioner' likely never went to Syria. rt.com 
The NY Times has finally retracted its award-winning podcast about a Canadian-born Islamic State executioner, months after Ottawa discovered he'd made it all up, admitting their fact-checking was "not sufficiently rigorous." | The 'paper of record' has come clean about the festering hoax at the center of its 2018 hit podcast 'Caliphate,' officially retracting the series on Friday and reassigning lead reporter Rukmini Callimachi off the terrorism beat. | Also on rt.com | | Th…
(2020-12-18). Macron's Covid-hit visit was never going to be the tonic Lebanon needs. middleeasteye.net 
Macron's Covid-hit visit was never going to be the tonic Lebanon needs | The president has had to cancel his trip to Beirut, but in truth his 'French initiative' grew sick long before he did | Fri, 12/18/2020 – 15: 55 | French President Emmanuel Macron (R) speaks with Arnaud Tranchant, commander of the Tonnerre helicopter carrier, off the port of Beirut (AFP) | For anyone believing the format…
(2020-12-18). Tehran, Moscow confer on JCPOA. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 18 (MNA) — Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali discussed at a meeting the situation around the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran's nuclear program.
(2020-12-18). Syrian refugee, 10, dreams of becoming a doctor after beginning new life in UK. thecanary.co A Syrian child refugee has said she hopes to become a doctor to "make people feel happy" after being given the chance of a new life in the UK. | A long journey: | Lilian, 10, came to live in Kent in 2018, having left her home country six years earlier amid a horrific civil war that still rages today. She was joined by parents Mahmoud and Khawla and siblings Laian, eight, Laith, five, and Wasef, four. | After a disrupted childhood in which the family spent six years in Jordan, Lilian told the PA news agency she feels settled in her new home and has high hopes for the future. She said: I am happy I'm sharing…
(2020-12-17). France: President Macron Tests Positive for COVID-19. telesurenglish.net France's President Emmanuel Macron tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday and will isolate himself for seven days. As a result, his to Lebanon scheduled for next Tuesday and Wednesday is canceled. | RELATED: | First Lady Brigitte Macron, who tested negative for COVID-19 on Tuesday and does not present any symptoms, is also placed in self-isolation. | Prime Minister Jean Castex, who is considered "a contact case" of M…
(2020-12-17). Video: Russian Forces Establish Presence on Syrian-Iraqi Border. globalresearch.ca Over the past weeks, the Syrian Army and its allies have intensified their operations against ISIS cells hiding in the Homs-Deir Ezzor desert. | According to pro-government sources, during the past few days, Syrian government forces and Iranian-backed militias carried out …
(2020-12-17). Lebanon military court sentences pop singer Fadel Shaker to 22 years in prison. middleeasteye.net 
Lebanon military court sentences pop singer Fadel Shaker to 22 years in prison | Shaker was sentenced in absentia for 'interfering in terrorist acts' and financing an armed group in 2012 | Thu, 12/17/2020 – 11: 50 | Lebanese singer Fadel Shaker performs during a gathering in the main sports stadium in the southern Lebanese city of Saida on 9 June 2013 (AFP) | A Lebanese military court sentenced on Wednesday ev…
(2020-12-17). Beirut explosion: Judge suspends blast probe amid political pressure. middleeasteye.net 
Beirut explosion: Judge suspends blast probe amid political pressure | Two ministers charged in explosion investigation have requested that Judge Fadi Sawwan be removed from proceedings | Thu, 12/17/2020 – 18: 17 | Helicopter battles fire at scene of explosion at port of Lebanon's capital Beirut on 4 August (AFP/File photo) | The judge overseeing an investigation into the massive explosion…
(2020-12-17). History: Israeli Propaganda on the 'Expulsion' of Arab Jews. globalresearch.ca Israeli propaganda about the "expulsion" of Arab Jews from Arab countries in the late 1940s and early 1950s continues without respite. Earlier this month, Israel's UN ambassador, Gilad Erdan,
(2020-12-16). Chicken run: Lebanese boy risks life and limb to rescue runaway fowl from Israel. middleeasteye.net 
Chicken run: Lebanese boy risks life and limb to rescue runaway fowl from Israel | Hussein Shartoony becomes an unexpected hero after Israeli soldiers fire bullets into the air as he attempts to rescue his friend | Wed, 12/16/2020 – 11: 59 | The reaction of the Israeli soldiers to Hussein and his chicken garnered ridicule online (Screengrab/Twitter) | Hezbollah may be Israel's most pressing threat on the Le…