(2021-04-06). Biden Finally Lifts Sanctions Against ICC As Demanded by World BEYOND War. counterpunch.org After months of demand from World BEYOND War and others, the Biden administration has finally lifted Trump-imposed sanctions on the ICC, stating a preference for a subtler approach to imposing lawlessness in the name of upholding the rule of law. Secretary of State Antony Blinken states: "We continue to disagree strongly with the ICC's actions relating to the
(2021-04-06). US Military Closes Camp 7, Guantánamo's 'High-Value Detainee' Prison Block, Moves Men To Camp 5 — OpEd. eurasiareview.com 
In news from Guantánamo, the US military announced that it had shut Camp 7, the secretive prison block where Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other so-called "high-value detainees" have been held since their arrival at Guantánamo from CIA "black sites" in September 2006, and had moved the prisoners to Camp 5. | Modeled on a maximum security prison in Terre Haute, Indiana, Camp 5, which cost $17.5 million, opened in 2004, and its solid-walled, isolated cells were used to hold prisoners regarded as non-compliant. As the prison's population shrank, however, it was closed — in September 2016 — and its remain…
(2021-04-06). Myanmar: PPST Calls For End To Killing Unarmed Civilians, Welcomes CRPH Constitutional Moves. eurasiareview.com 
The Peace Process Steering Team (PPST), formed by the 10 ethnic armed organisations that signed Myanmar's Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, on Sunday called on the junta to stop killing unarmed civilians, and to immediately and unconditionally release all those unjustly detained under its rule. | The PPST made its demands in a five-point "common positions" statement released following a video conference meeting held by members on April 3-4. | "We will continue our support towards the Spring Revolution including Public Civil Disobedience Movement," the statement added, while also welcoming a recent declaration by…
(2021-04-06). Has America come any closer to Dr. King's dream? peoplesworld.org 
Last weekend marked the 53d anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's assassination. Over half a century. Has America come any closer to his dream? He would be pleased at some of our progress. Segregation is no longer the law of the land. The Voting Rights Act helped open doors. Dr. King would be pleased that …
(2021-04-06). A virtual birthday celebration for Paul Robeson on April 9. peoplesworld.org 
LOS ANGELES — Paul Robeson (1898-1976), actor, singer, athlete, civil rights activist and humanitarian, is the inspiration for The Robey Theatre Company and the man from whom The Robey gets its name. On Friday, April 9 at 6: 00 p.m. PDT, The Robey will hold a virtual birthday celebration for Paul Robeson. This is the first …
(2021-04-06). US, Iran Play Down Hopes Of Quick Fix Ahead Of Talks On Reviving Nuclear Deal. eurasiareview.com 
( Washington predicted the meetings would be "difficult" and steered clear of talk of a breakthrough, while Tehran insisted that it is "neither optimistic nor pessimistic" and will not abandon its demand that U.S. sanctions be lifted before it acts. | U.S. and Iranian officials ar…
(2021-04-06). "Wipe Out China!" US-funded Uyghur Activists Train as Gun-toting Foot Soldiers for Empire. globalresearch.ca Cultivated by the US government as human rights activists, Uyghur American …
(2021-04-06). Six ways Chevron imperils climate, human rights, and racial justice. nationofchange.org These six examples illustrate a stunning array of corporate abuse, deception, and misconduct by one of the world's largest and most powerful corporations.
(2021-04-06). The Significance of the NUMSA Appeal to the World for Mumia Abu-Jamal. counterpunch.org On March 10th 2021, Jack Heyman, a retired member of the International Longshoremen and Warehousing Union and longstanding member of theWest Coast Labor Action Committee to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal shared with the Mumia and prison human rights' groups nationally and internationally a press release from the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA). The South
(2021-04-06). Saudi aid worker sentenced to 20 years in prison. peoplesdispatch.org It is believed that Abdulrahman al-Sadhan has been convicted in connection with operating an anonymous Twitter account that was critical of human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia and the policies of crown prince Mohammed bin Salman…
(2021-04-06). Illinois governor signs bill restoring bargaining rights to Chicago teachers. fightbacknews.org Chicago, IL – On April 2, Illinois Governor Jay Pritzker signed a bill, in opposition of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, that restores bargaining rights for Chicago teachers over a wide variety of issues that affect teachers and students in Illinois. This bill repeals a previous law from 1995 that limited the teachers' rights to bargain over things like class size, layoffs, the timing of the school year, and other things. The previous bill had given power over the school district over to the mayor and ultimately was part of setting up disputes between the Chicago teachers Union (CTU) and previous Chicago Mayor Rahm…
(2021-04-06). Illinois governor signs bill restoring bargaining rights to Chicago teachers. fightbacknews.org Chicago, IL – On April 2, Illinois Governor Jay Pritzker signed a bill, in opposition of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, that restores bargaining rights for Chicago teachers over a wide variety of issues that affect teachers and students in Illinois. This bill repeals a previous law from 1995 that limited the teachers' rights to bargain over things like class size, layoffs, the timing of the school year, and other things. The previous bill had given power over the school district over to the mayor and ultimately was part of setting up disputes between the Chicago teachers Union (CTU) and previous Chicago Mayor Rahm…
(2021-04-06). On Palestine Children's Day, 140 Minors Held in Israeli Prisons. orinocotribune.com Marking Palestine Children's Day, the Palestine Prisoners' Club revealed that there are 140 Palestinian children in Israeli prisons, including two under administrative detention. | According to the Defence for Children International-Palestine, every year between 500 and 700 Palestinian children are prosecuted by Israel in military courts. | Until the end of March 2021, human rights groups have counted 230 Palestinian children detained by the Israeli occupation, mostly from Jerusalem. | Dylan Williams, former US Senate staffer and senior vice president of the advocacy group J Street, tweeted last month: | "H…
(2021-04-06). World's Poorest Nations Face Setback over Patent Rights. zcomm.org We look at the urgent push to ensure equal access to COVID-19 vaccines for all nations, rich and poor, and growing calls for Big Pharma to waive their patent rights, as COVID-19 cases soar…
(2021-04-06). Incitement charge against refugee rights activist dismissed. greenleft.org.au Chris Slee reports that a judge dismissed a charge of "incitement" against refugee rights activist Chris Breen.
(2021-04-06). Women's Rights Are Human Rights. commondreams.org This fight against women's oppression is not just a struggle for women, but for all of humanity. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2021-04-06). US denounces Saudi court sentencing of aid worker to 20 years in prison. middleeasteye.net 
US denounces Saudi court sentencing of aid worker to 20 years in prison | State Department warns 'freedom of expression should never be a punishable offense' after Red Crescent aid worker jailed for allegedly running anonymous social media account | Tue, 04/06/2021 – 15: 36 | Detained aid worker Abdulrahman al-Sadhan has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in addition to a subsequent two-decade travel ban (Co…
(2021-04-06). Biden administration asks US court to throw out case against ex-Egyptian PM. middleeasteye.net 
Biden administration asks US court to throw out case against ex-Egyptian PM | Justice Department says lawsuit against Hazem el-Beblawi, over his alleged involvement in torture, should be dismissed due to his diplomatic status | Tue, 04/06/2021 – 15: 48 | Mohamed Soltan filed a lawsuit against Hazem el-Beblawi (pictured) last June, accusing him of direct responsibility for his treatment, which inclu…
(2021-04-06). Application for fresh inquest refused. ukhumanrightsblog.com 
Farrell v HMC for North East Hampshire [2021] EWHC 778 (Admin) Applying for a fresh inquest is not straightforward. First, the bereaved have to get permission from the Attorney General. Only once that authority has been granted will they be allowed to apply to the High Court to reopen the inquest (section 13 of the …
(2021-04-06). China Warns US Against Acting 'Superior' to Other Nations. news.antiwar.com With the Biden administration taking an aggressive approach to China, US officials are often making demands of Beijing and taking unilateral action through economic sanctions. Responding to this approach, C "China will not accept that there is any nation in the world that [can] put itself superior to the others, and that any nation will have a final say on world affairs," Wang said in comments to Chinese state media on Monday. "If the US continues to confront, China will take it calmly…
(2021-04-06). Human Rights for Children: Saving Children from COVID Measures Abuses. globalresearch.ca Background | The Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights …
(2021-04-05). ICE's Watchdog Agency Confirms Dangerous Conditions in Arizona Immigration Detention Facility. aclu.org 
Last week, the Department of Homeland Security's internal watchdog agency released a damning In unusual…
(2021-04-05). Alex Saab: 'I was Tortured and Pressured' to Sign Voluntary Extradition. orinocotribune.com 
In a recent interview with the Colombian news outlet El Espectador, Colombian-Venezuelan businessman and Venezuelan special envoy àÅlex Saab confessed to having been a victim of torture from the first day of his "kidnapping" in Cape Verde. He asserted that he was pressured "to sign voluntary extradition statements and give false testimony." Saab has been in detention in Cape Verde—first in prison and now under house arrest—since his arbitrary and irregular arrest in June 2020 in that country. | "I was kidnapped by Cape Verde in collusion with the United States," said the Venezuelan diplomat duri…
(2021-04-05). "Wipe out China!" U.S.-funded Uyghur activists train as gun-toting foot soldiers for empire. mronline.org 
Cultivated by the US government as human rights activists, Uyghur American Association leaders partner with far-right lawmakers and operate a militia-style gun club that trains with ex-US special forces. | April 5, 2021 | Newswire…
(2021-04-05). US Media As Protagonist For Framing Image Of Different Countries — OpEd. .com 
The United States along with its allies wrought a new global system entrenched in newfangled institutions and international rules after the World War II. This radical global system had a clear focus to regulate the demeanor of different states. The United Nations (UN) emerged as an imperative mainstay to this global system, as it aspired to avert future wars between its member states. | Over time, this system kept on transforming by introduction of set of principles in five strategic expanses of the state behavior including trade order, financial order, maritime order, human rights order, and non-proliferation…
(2021-04-05). Israeli Apartheid Week at the University of Toronto begins today — join these events for Palestine! samidoun.net 
Please join these important events for Israeli Apartheid Week at the University of Toronto, beginning today, 5 April, with the keynote speech by Dr. Rabab Ibrahim Abdulhadi. Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network is proud to join as an endorser of IAW 2021 First launched in Toronto in 2005, Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) has become one of the most important global events in the Palestine solidarity calendar. IAW is an international series of events that aims to raise awareness of Israel's apartheid regime over the Palestinian people and build support for the growing Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions move…
(2021-04-05). Duterte's lockdowns falters even as Philippines add over 100,000 new COVID cases in 10 days. peoplesdispatch.org The series of heavily policed and extended lockdowns in place since March 2020, has failed to contain the spread of COVID-19 and given way to more human rights violations…
(2021-04-05). Biden seeks to deploy federal employees to immigrant detention facilities. wsws.org The deployment of federal civilian employees is aimed at facilitating, not changing, a brutal policy of incarcerating children fleeing violence and poverty, which has led to thousands of child migrants being packed into cages along the US-Mexican border.
(2021-04-05). Ahead of nuclear deal meeting in Vienna, Iran calls for lifting of all US sanctions. peoplesdispatch.org Iranian officials said that there were no plans for meetings with US officials "directly or indirectly." They also rejected any step-by-step proposal for the restoration of the deal, calling for the immediate withdrawal of sanctions…
(2021-04-05). US Ready to Discuss Sanctions With Iran Under 2015 Deal Terms. telesurenglish.net The United States is prepared to discuss sanctions relief with Iran based on the terms of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, State Department spokesman Ned Price said. | RELATED: | Price spoke to reporters Monday in Washington DC and stated that the U.S side would not entertain unilateral gestures or concessions to induce Iran to a better place. "Our goal at these talks in Vienna is to set the stage for that mutual return…
(2021-04-05). Russia's FSB Detains 4 ISIS Supporters In Kislovodsk. southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | An ISIS supporter was detained in Russia's Kislovodsk. | He was allegedy planning an attack on security officials, the Russian security service — FSB reported."In the city of Kislovodsk, a Russian citizen born in 1996, previously convicted of common crimes, was detained, who was preparing to carry out an attack on law enforcement officers using improvised explosive devices in the interests of international terrorist organizations," the FSB said. |
(2021-04-05). China Adopts Kremlin's 'Information War' Tactics — Analysis. eurasiareview.com 
By Jamie Dettmer | China is taking a page out of the Kremlin's playbook and is seeking to highlight America's faults and weaponize the culture wars and identity politics currently buffeting the West, according to disinformation analysts. | Much like the Kremlin and state-owned Russian media, Chinese propagandists are focusing on the problems of racial injustice and income inequality in the U.S. and Western Europe — a move to distract attention from Beijing's own rights abuses, including the internment of more than a million ethnic Muslim Uyghurs, analysts say. | "Civil unrest in the United States followi…
(2021-04-05). World's Poorest Nations Face Setback as India Suspends Vaccine Exports Amid Fight over Patent Rights. democracynow.org 
We look at the urgent push to ensure equal access to COVID-19 vaccines for all nations, rich and poor, and growing calls for Big Pharma to waive their patent rights, as COVID-19 cases soar in India and the Modi government has suspended exports of coronavirus vaccines to many of the world's poorest countries that depend on AstraZeneca vaccines it produces. "These are not India's vaccines," says Achal Prabhala, coordinator of the AccessIBSA project, which campaigns for equitable access to medicines. "The number of vaccine doses that have gone out to a third of humanity — 91 poor countries — is 18 millio…
(2021-04-05). India Suspends Vaccine Exports as Calls Grow to Waive Big Pharma's Patent Rights. truthout.org 
We look at the urgent push to ensure equal access to COVID-19 vaccines for all nations, rich and poor, and growing calls for Big Pharma to waive their patent rights, as COVID-19 cases soar in India and the Modi government has suspended exports of coronavirus vaccines to many of the world's poorest countries that depend on AstraZeneca vaccines it produces. "These are not India's vaccines," says Achal Prabhala, coordinator of the AccessIBSA project, which campaigns for equitable access to medic…
(2021-04-05). MLK Opposed "Poverty, Racism & Militarism" in Speech One Year Before His Assassination 53 Years Ago. democracynow.org 
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated 53 years ago, on April 4, 1968, at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, at the age of 39. While Dr. King is primarily remembered as a civil rights leader, he also championed the cause of the poor, organized the Poor People's Campaign to address issues of economic justice, and was a fierce critic of U.S. foreign policy and the Vietnam War. We air an excerpt of his "Beyond Vietnam" speech, delivered at New York's Riverside Church on April 4, 1967, a year to the day before he was assassinated, in which Dr. King called the United States "the greatest purveyor of violen…
(2021-04-05). 'This Victory Belongs to Trans Youth': Arkansas Gov. Vetoes Bill That Would Deny Gender-Affirming Care. commondreams.org "This victory belongs to the thousands of Arkansans who spoke out against this discriminatory bill, especially the young people, parents, and pediatricians who never stopped fighting this anti-trans attack." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2021-04-05). Coup Threat In Turkey. Dozen Admirals Detained Over Critics Of Istanbul Canal Project. southfront.org 
Illustrative Image | Submitted by Thomas ST exclusively for SouthFront. | 103 retired admirals issued a statement condemning the "Islamization" of the Turkish Armed Forces and the recent public debate on Turkey's withdrawal from the Montreux Treaty for the Straits. On April 5, Turkey detained 10 retired admirals after a letter signed that they had signed warned against a possible threat to a treaty governing the use of Turkey's key waterways. | It is the first time since the coup attempt in July 2016 that Turkish…
(2021-04-05). Models face 6 months in Dubai jail after pics of NAKED photoshoot on high-rise balcony go viral — Russian organizer also arrested. rt.com 
A dozen women have been detained by Dubai police after posing for a nude photo shoot on a balcony in the center of the city on Sunday afternoon in broad daylight. According to local laws, they are facing six months behind bars.
(2021-04-05). Saudi terror court sentences Red Crescent aid worker to 20 years in prison. middleeasteye.net 
Saudi terror court sentences Red Crescent aid worker to 20 years in prison | Abdulrahman al-Sadhan's arrest was reportedly linked to an anonymous Twitter account that voiced concerns over human rights in the kingdom | Mon, 04/05/2021 – 17: 58 | Abdulrahman al-Sadhan and his sister Areej al-Sadhan, prior to his detention (Courtesy of Areej al-Sadhan) | A Saudi terrorism court sentenced a local aid worker to 20…
(2021-04-05). Egyptians criticise mummy parade for neglecting the living. middleeasteye.net 
Egyptians criticise mummy parade for neglecting the living | Journalists and activists denounce celebration of ancient Egypt as distraction from repression, poverty and government's poor handling of pandemic | Mon, 04/05/2021 – 17: 33 | A performer rides a two-horse chariot at the start of the parade of 22 ancient Egyptian royal mummies (AFP) | Egypt held an extravagant parade on Saturday, as it trans…
(2021-04-05). The Weekly Round-Up: New Police Powers and Domestic Abuse in the Family Courts. ukhumanrightsblog.com 
In the news On Friday, former Home Secretary Lord Blunkett raised his issues with the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, an enormous piece of legislation that reforms much existing legislation and common law offences. Lord Blunkett pointed to the difficulties the police could face in interpreting the new law, and the sensitive nature of …
(2021-04-05). Sri Lanka Mourns Fearless Defender Of Tamil Tights. .com 
By Quintus Colombage | Outspoken Bishop Rayappu Joseph was an untiring advocate of Tamil rights and justice during Sri Lanka's civil war and post-war years. | Thousands were killed and disappeared during the 26-year war that ended in 2009 when the army defeated Tamil rebels. Both sides were accused of serious human rights violations. Many Catholic priests were killed or went missing. | Bishop Joseph, who died on April 1 at the age of 80, raised his voice nationally and internationally for victims. | "The bishop was a vocal critic of the government, military and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), whic…