(2020-12-29). Recidivist Criminal and Constitutional Outlaw Trump Rushes to Pardon Criminal Lawbreakers. counterpunch.org 
Serial lawbreaker Donald J. Trump is embarking on the most sordid presidential pardon spree in American history. He has already pardoned convicted crooks, thieves, and violent outlaws. Trump's pardon lawyers are frantically assembling more MAGA besotted individuals and groups to be pardoned wholesale. The number may climb into the hundreds. The queue is long. Trump
(2020-12-29). Book Review: 'Out of Mesopotamia' Is a Great War Novel. scheerpost.com Introducing a new Book Review section on ScheerPost, edited by Eunice Wong. By Chris Hedges / Original to ScheerPost Salar Abdoh's novel, " Out of Mesopotamia," is one of a handful of great modern war novels. It tells the story of Saleh, a jaded, middle-aged Iranian reporter — one suspects a bit like Abdoh himself — who accompanies Shia militias, as Abdoh did, in Iraq and Syria during the heavy… |
(2020-12-29). UN Human Rights Expert Urges US to Lift Sanctions That 'May Exacerbate the Already Dire Humanitarian Situation in Syria'. commondreams.org After nearly a decade of war, the special rapporteur noted, Syrians are living with "extensively damaged houses, medical units, schools, and other facilities." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/screen_shot_2019-04-25_at_8.39.42_am_0.png …
(2020-12-29). Lebanon: UN chief welcomes murder conviction for 1980 blue helmet killings. news.un.org United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed Lebanon's decision to bring to justice the man found guilty of killing two UN peacekeepers decades ago.
(2020-12-29). Energix Faces Opposition In Syria And Virginia. popularresistance.org In early December hundreds of Syrians gathered to protest the Israeli company Energix as it began construction of massive wind turbines in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Energix is also facing growing community opposition across Virginia as it lobbies to secure permits to build solar energy utilities on mostly agricultural parcels with cultural, forest and natural land designations. In Golan Heights, Energix freely wields the power of Israeli police and courts to transcend community opposition. In Virginia, Energix steamrolls community opponents empowered by massive federal and state subsidies and a curious…
(2020-12-28). Lebanon's president compelled to say he'll take Covid vaccine as conspiracies spread. middleeasteye.net 
Lebanon's president compelled to say he'll take Covid vaccine as conspiracies spread | Michel Aoun's spokesperson had told MEE 85-year-old was yet to make a decision on getting the jab, as healthcare officials urge a public awareness campaign | Mon, 12/28/2020 – 16: 44 | A supporter of Lebanese President Michel Aoun wears a face mask with a drawing of the president and the writing in Arabic t…
(2020-12-28). Lebanon: Fire Forces 370 Syrian Refugees To Leave Miniyeh Camp. telesurenglish.net A feud between a Lebanese family and a Syrian family on Saturday sparked a fire that burned down the Syrian refugee camp in Miniyeh, in northern Lebanon. | RELATED | While agency ANN reported that the fire left three people injured, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesperson Khaled Kabbara said that some 80 tents housing 370 people were burned "to the ground with all their belongings." | The informal camp was evacuated and some Syrian refu…
(2020-12-28). China ready to work with Iran in fight against terrorism. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 28 (MNA) — Chinese Ambassador to Iran voiced Beijing's readiness to work with the international community, including Iran, to jointly tackle terrorism under the new circumstances.
(2020-12-28). Brexit deal gets provisional approval in Brussels, expected to pass UK vote. laprensalatina.com Brussels, Dec 28 (efe-epa).- European Union ambassadors on Monday gave the green light to provisionally apply…
(2020-12-27). Russia Calls for De-Escalation of Tensions in Syria's Ayn Issa, Reconciliation Centre Says. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russian officials are calling on all parties to cease shelling near the Syrian town of Ayn Issa, Rear Adm. Vyacheslav Sytnik, the deputy head of the Russian Defence Ministry's centre for Syrian reconciliation, said on Sunday.
(2020-12-25). Turkey's Erdogan indicates better ties with Israel possible. middleeasteye.net 
Turkey's Erdogan indicates better ties with Israel possible | President says talks at intelligence level continue between the two sides but Israel's policies on Palestine 'unacceptable' | Fri, 12/25/2020 – 11: 19 | The two countries have had several fallings out in recent years, despite strong commercial ties, expelling ambassadors in 2018 (AFP) | Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ind…
(2020-12-25). Contagious and mutated: What we know about the NEW coronavirus strain — and how much you need to worry. rt.com 
A new and more infectious strain of the Covid-19 coronavirus has spread to more countries around the globe. But what's different about this new pathogen? And should people be prepping for a total apocalypse yet? | Ireland confirmed the presence of a new and highly infectious coronavirus strain on Friday, while authorities in Lebanon and Japan also recorded the first cases attributed to this variant. In continental Europe, Germany and Denmark confirmed the presence of the strain earlier this week, joining the Netherlands and Italy. | Little is yet known about the new strain — which bears the catchy name 'S…
(2020-12-25). Working for the revolution in Rojava. zcomm.org Interview on the political and military upheaval taking place in Rojava and northern Syria from the perspective of someone who not only witnessed the struggle but was an active participant…
