(2020-05-14). Beijing signals harsh counter-sanctions for US lawmakers & STATES targeting China over Covid-19 outbreak. rt.com 
China will not submit to US lawsuits and legislation aimed at blaming Beijing for the coronavirus crisis, state media has warned, suggesting that counter-sanctions against officials and entire states are already in the works. | Numerous members of Congress and other officials will be put onto China's sanctions list for their involvement in efforts to demonize China for its alleged responsibility for the pandemic, the Global Times The "painful" countermeasures will likely target Senator John Haw…
(2020-05-14). Gunpoint diplomacy: US to 'snap back' all UN sanctions on Iran if expiring arms embargo isn't renewed. rt.com 
Two years after spectacularly exiting the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, the US has threatened to trigger a return of all UN sanctions — once lifted under those accords — if it doesn't renew an arms embargo set to expire in October.
(2020-05-14). Ethical Human Rights: China criticizes New Zealand for supporting Taiwan. indybay.org If my book was less suppressed the UN may well take a more positive view of Taiwan's wish to gain formal recognition in the World Health Organization. The UN seems to be following China's 'One-China policy' by excluding Taiwan.
(2020-05-14). U.S. Sanctions: The Weaponization of the Global Financial System. indybay.org Zoom Meeting ID: 873 3950 1810 | Password: 795705 | Join Zoom meeting: | us02web.zoom.us/j/87339501810?pwd=cXJtNk… | Call in: +1 669-900-9128 | Look up int'l numbers: zoom.us/u/kcOFhaNgyn…
(2020-05-14). Brian Hook threatens to trigger return of UN sanctions on Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 14 (MNA) — In line with Washington's hawkish policies, US special envoy for Iran, Brian Hook, has publicly threatened to trigger a return of all United Nations sanctions on the Islamic Republic if the UN Security Council does not extend an arms embargo on Tehran that is due to expire in October under the 2015 nuclear deal.
(2020-05-14). Iran destabilised by US amid COVID-19 pandemic. wsws.org US sanctions have shattered the country's economy and blocked access to critical food, pharmaceutical and industrial supplies, making it more difficult for Iran to respond to the pandemic.
(2020-05-14). Iranian coastguards detain 4 trawlers, 8 foreign nationals in Hormozgan. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 14 (MNA) — Coastguards of southern Hormuzgan province have seized four trawlers and arrested eight foreign nationals on board at Bandar Abbas territorial waters in the Persian Gulf, provincial Judiciary official Ali Salehi said on Thursday.
(2020-05-13). New Orleans sanitation workers demand "basic rights that every worker deserves" peoplesdispatch.org 
New Orleans sanitation workers began a The hoppers work for Metro Services Group, but are hired by a third party app-b…
(2020-05-13). Chechen leader Kadyrov BANNED from Instagram AGAIN, loses account with 1.4 MILLION followers. rt.com 
For many in the 21st century, losing social media access would be a devastating blow. However, for Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, it's just another day. For the third time in three years, Kadyrov has been banned from Instagram. | According to Instagram's owners, Facebook, the ban was in relation to US sanctions against the Chechen leader. | Since 2017, Kadyrov has been sanctioned by the United States under the terms of the Magnitsky Act. Signed by President Barack Obama in 2012, and later expanded in 2016, the Magnitsky Act enables the US government to sanction foreign government officials implicated in allege…
(2020-05-13). Beijing denounces 'immoral' US Senate bill threatening China with sanctions over Covid-19. rt.com 
Beijing has lashed out at US legislation which seeks to impose sanctions on China if it fails to cooperate with Washington's investigation into the coronavirus pandemic. | The bill would require the president to notify Congress within 60 days that China had "provided a full and complete accounting" to any US-led probe into the coronavirus outbreak. The rule would also apply to investigations carried out by American allies and UN agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO). | The legislation also demands that China shutter all "wet markets" which can pose a risk to human health. It also calls for the i…
(2020-05-13). From Lebanon to Syria, the Arab World is Failing Palestinian Refugees. mintpressnews.com Heinous racism. That is how the Geneva-based Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor described a recent decision by Lebanese authorities to bar Palestinian refugee expats from returning to Lebanon. | Lebanon's restrictions on its Many were ta…
(2020-05-13). [UPDATED] Venezuelan Oil Sector Continues Slump Amid Pandemic, US Sanctions. venezuelanalysis.com The Maduro government is working to repair refineries with Chinese and Iranian assistance to tackle fuel shortages.
(2020-05-13). Something About Julian Assange You Should Know. strategic-culture.org It is not just our family who suffers from the infringement of Julian's rights. If our family and Julian's lawyers are not off-limits, then nothing is. The person responsible for allegedly ordering the theft of Gabriel's DNA is Mike Pompeo, who last month threatened the family members of lawyers working at the International Criminal Court.
(2020-05-13). Contact Tracing, Immunity Cards and Mass Testing: Are We on The Fast Track to a National ID? mintpressnews.com CHARLOTTESVILLE ( That's the message being broadcast 24/7 with every new piece of government propaganda, every new law that criminalizes otherwise lawful activity, every new policeman on the beat, every new surveillance camera casting a watchful eye, every sensationalist news story that titillates and distracts, every new prison or detention center built to house troublemake…
(2020-05-13). IndustriALL questions violations of worker rights by Shell in Nigeria. peoplesdispatch.org 82% of oil giant Shell's workforce in Nigeria is sourced through labor contractors. As per IndustriALL, the workers "live in poverty with no job security, poor healthcare and little regard for health and safety."
(2020-05-13). Trump ally Lindsey Graham seeks China sanctions over coronavirus probe: report. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 13 (MNA) — A leading US Republican senator proposed legislation on Tuesday that would authorise the US president to impose far-reaching sanctions on China if it fails to give a full account of events leading to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.
(2020-05-13). Lavrov slams US' baseless accusations against Russia, China amid coronavirus pandemic. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 13 (MNA) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov slammed on Wednesday Washington's accusations against Russia and China as baseless, stressing that unilateral sanctions could only hinder humanitarian assistance amid the coronavirus pandemic.
(2020-05-13). Imposing Sanctions Is A War Crime Amid Pandemic. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2020-05-12). Leaders from sanctioned countries condemn U.S. sanctions amid COVID-19 pandemic. fightbacknews.org Minneapolis, MN – Over 1000 people attended an online panel hosted by the United National AntiWar Coalition, May 9. In a panel entitled, "U.S. Sanctions During the COVID-19 Pandemic, a Global Threat" leaders representing six countries facing harsh U.S. sanctions highlighted the leading role of the United States in undermining the healthcare infrastructure of sovereign states in order to foment regime change. | U.S. imposed economic sanctions currently impact 39 countries, representing one third of the global population. These sanctions result in chronic shortages of basic necessities and have inhibited the abilit…
(2020-05-12). During COVID-19 Crisis, We Must Prioritize the Release of Pregnant People. aclu.org 
This piece was first published on
(2020-05-12). Political Prisoners Teach-In: Mumia, migrant rights and cages. workers.org 
These slightly edited remarks were made April 24 at the "U.S. Empire vs. Political Prisoners" teach-in webinar sponsored by Mobilization4Mumia and held in honor of the 66th birthday of political prisoner and revolutionary Mumia Abu-Jamal, incarcerated for 39 years by the U.S. state. Teresa Gutierrez First of all, happy . . . |
(2020-05-12). Sanctions = Health terrorism. workers.org 
A timely international webinar, sponsored by SanctionsKill.org on May 9, featured representatives from Cuba, Iran, Nicaragua, Syria and Venezuela, plus a statement from Zimbabwe addressing the deadly impact of U.S. sanctions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 1,000 people from nearly every continent, including multiple U.S. cities, viewed the event. The . . . |
(2020-05-12). Minneapolis vigil honors Carlos Ernesto Escobar-Mejia, first person to die of COVID-19 in ICE detention. fightbacknews.org Minneapolis, MN – After dark on Monday, May 11, the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) held a candlelight vigil at the Minneapolis Federal Courthouse to remember Carlos Ernesto Escobar-Mejia. He is the first person reported to die of COVID-19 while in jail detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The speakers at the vigil called on people to remember Carlos and called on government officials to free all ICE detainees. | Because of COVID-19, all vigil participants wore a mask and maintained social distance. | During the vigil, Escobar-Mejia's name was also projected on a large wall o…
(2020-05-12). Serbian housing rights collective organizes relief work for COVID-19. peoplesdispatch.org Serbian housing rights collective Zdru≈æena Akcija Krov nad Glavom (Joint Action Roof Over Your Head) has initiated a relief campaign for the distribution of food and other essentials to people in distress…
(2020-05-12). We don't need empty praise: Nurses' unions demand better protection, rights. peoplesdispatch.org May 12 is globally observed as International Nurses Day. The day marks the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, who revolutionized healthcare and introduced modern nursing. This year, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses have come out to tell us that they have been left behind. | A virtual press conference held by Public Services International (PSI), on the eve of the Nurses Day, had unions from different parts of the Asia-Pacific region talk about the monumental challenges during the pandemic. According to the South-East Asian Regional Office (SEARO) of the World Health Organization, at this time, the Asia-P…
(2020-05-12). Dallas County Officials are Leaving Vulnerable People to Catch COVID-19 in Jail. aclu.org Wykivia and Ideare Bailey were taking every precaution. Worried for their asthmatic daughter due to the spread of COVID-19, the couple was meticulous in cleaning, sanitizing, and social distancing to reduce every possible threat. However, when Ideare was arrested for property theft and booked into the Dallas County Jail on April 6, there was no way to adhere to those precautions. Held in a crowded intake room, he could not maintain six feet of distance from other people. Forced to live in a dormitory with 60 other people — for meals, downtime, sleeping, bathing, everything — Mr. Bailey knew that he…
(2020-05-12). Minnesota Nurses Association plans to march on the State Capitol to demand safety for nurses. fightbacknews.org St. Paul, MN – As cases of COVID-19 continue to rise across Minnesota, members of the Minnesota Nurses Association have announced that they will march on May 20 from Allina Health United Hospital to the Minnesota State Capitol to demand that management of United Hospital and other hospitals provide proper PPE, training, and safety, as well as transparency to keep nurses and other healthcare workers safe. They will also be delivering a petition with over 10,000 signatures to the Minnesota Department of Health demanding a Pandemic Bill of Rights to keep Minnesotans safe. Social distancing guidelines will be followe…
(2020-05-12). Nicaragua Requests OAS Lift Sanctions Due to COVID Crisis. telesurenglish.net Nicaragua's representative to the Organization of American States (OAS) demanded on May 11 that sanctions cease against Cuba, Venezuela, and his nation. | RELATED: | Nicaraguan diplomat Luis Alvarado participated in the first session of the Weekly Forum on the Challenges Facing Inter-American Law in the Time of the Coronavirus. He referred to COVID-19's social and economic worldwide impact. Alvarado stated solidarity and cooperation are paramount to cope with sequels…
(2020-05-12). World Council of Churches calls for lifting US sanctions against Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 12 (MNA) — In a letter to the chairman of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization Ebrahimi Torkaman World Council of Churches (WCC) Acting General Secretary Ioan Sauca said that WCC calls for the lifting of sanctions against the Iranian people.
(2020-05-12). Refugee rights supporters occupy the Mantra Hotel. greenleft.org.au 
(2020-05-12). Church Vandalised in Pakistan Allegedly by Armed Men Over Land Dispute – Video. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) recently released a report citing the sufferings of minorities due to forced conversion to Islam. The report said minorities were unable to enjoy the religious freedom that is supposedly guaranteed them under the constitution.
(2020-05-12). Russian Federal Security Service Detains Man Planning to Set Gov't Buildings on Fire in Tver Region. sputniknews.com The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) on Tuesday announced the prevention of a terrorist attack in the city of Kimry, in Tver Region.
(2020-05-12). N. Cyprus slams joint declaration on E. Mediterranean. yenisafak.com The premier of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) slammed on Tuesday a joint declaration dubbing Turkey's activities in the Eastern Mediterranean as "illegal"."Turkish Cypriots have as much rights as the Greeks in the Eastern Mediterranean," said TRNC Prime Minister Ersin Tatar in a statement.Tatar said that some parties heighten hostilities when their interests in the region are being hampered, but this was not a rightful approach.The Turkish Cypriot premier's remarks came after Greece, Egypt, France, the Greek Cypriot administration, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) released the joint declaration…
(2020-05-11). The Execution of Julian Assange. mintpressnews.com 
I do not respect anyone who has not been to prison." Julian Assange once said to Renata Avila, a Guatemalan human rights activist who serves as legal counsel for WikiLeaks. "What he meant," Avila After a decade of being shuttled from house arrest to confinement in an embassy to Belmarsh Prison to, if the United States government ge…
(2020-05-11). In Haiti ICE is spreading COVID-19. workers.org 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the agency charged with deporting people from the United States, scheduled five deportations to Haiti on May 11 from the Pine Prairie Detention Center in Louisiana. The agency claims the five individuals have either tested positive for COVID-19 or show signs of having the disease. (Miami . . . |
(2020-05-11). The Elders Issue Scathing Rebuke of Israel's Trump-Approved West Bank Annexation Plan. commondreams.org "The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians can only ever be solved by finding a solution that guarantees peace, security, rights, and dignity to both peoples. Unilaterally seizing territory and ignoring international law achieves precisely the opposite." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2020-05-11). Rights Groups Work to Stop 'Unnecessary and Potentially Disenfranchising Purges' of Voter Rolls in Pennsylvania. commondreams.org American civil rights groups on Monday moved to intervene in a lawsuit filed by the right-wing activist group Judicial Watch that critics warn could result in "the unnecessary and potentially disenfranchising purges" of voter rolls in three Pennsylvania counties ahead of the November elections. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2020-05-11). PCHR: In the Context of Israel's Policy of Collective Punishment, Occupation Forces Demolish Home of Palestinian Detainee's Family in Ramallah. imemc.org Palestinian Center for Human Rights In the context of the collective punishment policy pursued by the Israeli occupation forces against the families of Palestinian citizens accused of carrying out acts of resistance against them and/or against the settlers, those forces demolished a house in the early hours of Monday, 11/5/2020, …
(2020-05-11). Doctors Speak Out About COVID 19 & The Violent Suppression Of Your Rights. thelastamericanvagabond.com The only question, is whether We The People have the courage to stand for what we know to be right, or if we will allow ourselves to be scared into passively accepting the "new normal," a locked down controlled society that was prepped for, planned out, and designed years ago. I for one, will never …
(2020-05-11). Voting Rights Advocates Intervene to Stop Illegitimate Purge of Eligible Pennsylvania Voters. commondreams.org ______________________________…