(2024-12-24). Water Over Gold: 15 Reasons Why El Salvador Should Again Reject Gold Mining. ips-dc.org 
Bukele's reversal today of the mining ban aggravates environmental risks already posed by his extractive economic agenda, will increase El Salvador's risk of environmental contamination, human rights violations, and public health concerns, and will have an adverse economic impact.
(2024-12-24). La ONU exige acción urgente tras desaparición de cuatro menores en Ecuador con presunto involucramiento militar. cubadebate.cu El Comité de Desapariciones Forzadas de la ONU ordenó medidas de acción inmediata por la desaparición de cuatro menores en Ecuador hace más de dos semanas, un caso que involucra a militares. La resolución, difundida por el Comité Permanente por la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos de Guayaquil, fija un plazo al Estado ecuatoriano hasta el 7 de enero de 2025.
(2024-12-24). Siria: Cristianos protestan en Damasco tras el incendio de un árbol de Navidad. cubadebate.cu Varias manifestaciones estallaron este martes en barrios cristianos de Damasco, en protesta por la quema de un árbol de Navidad ocurrida la noche antes de Nochebuena cerca de la ciudad de Hama, en el centro de Siria. "Exigimos los derechos de los cristianos", corearon los manifestantes mientras marchaban hacia la sede del Patriarcado Ortodoxo.
(2024-12-24). Headlines for December 24, 2024. democracynow.org Israel Attacks Two Hospitals in Northern Gaza, Israel Detains 100 in West Bank; Palestinian Authority Clashes with Palestinian Fighters in Jenin, Israel Confirms It Assassinated Haniyeh as It Threatens to Kill Houthi Leaders Next, Greenland Is Not for Sale: PM Responds to Donald Trump's Remark, El Salvador: Lawmakers Vote to Overturn Ban on Mineral Mining, Mass Protest in Cuba Denounces U.S. Sanctions, House Ethics Report Finds Matt Gaetz Spent Tens of Thousands of Dollars on Sex and Drugs, Family of Rep. Kay Granger Reveals She Has Dementia; Texas Republican Has Missed Every Vote Since July, Amazon Accused…
(2024-12-24). Israeli forces raid occupied West Bank as clashes continue in Jenin. aljazeera.com One killed, 18 others detained amid ongoing violent Israeli incursions into the occupied Palestinian territories.
(2024-12-24). Peru's crisis-ridden president launches police-state buildup. wsws.org The rearming of the Peruvian state is part of a global shift towards dictatorial measures amid the drive to war and attacks on democratic rights.
(2024-12-24). Blame billionaires, not migrants — Keep New York a sanctuary city. workers.org 
Solidarity with migrants demonstration, New York City, Dec. 18, 2024. By Hugo East New York City — Supporters of immigrant rights formed a picket line in front of New York City Hall Dec. 18, International Migrants Day, to oppose Mayor Eric Adams's plan to help President-elect Donald Trump deport migrants . . . |
(2024-12-24). Citing judicial overhaul, Tel Aviv University senior faculty declare labor dispute. haaretz.com The union argued that the proposed bills will weaken the powers of those 'responsible for protecting the rule of law.' The 1,300-member union also warned against bills enabling sanctioning and dismissal of faculty, claiming they infringe on academic freedom…
(2024-12-24). Galapagos islands sanctuary, not military base, organizations demand. plenglish.com Quito, Dec 24 (Prensa Latina) A coalition of 50 social, national and international organizations today rejected the foreign military presence in the Galapagos Islands, because it violates the Constitution of Ecuador, threatens the conservation of the archipelago and compromises national sovereignty.
(2024-12-23). One year of denouncing the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. fidh.org One year ago, the elected representatives of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), voted on a resolution describing as genocide the crimes committed by the State of Israel against the Palestinian people in Gaza. As evidence of the crimes keeps accumulating, the Israeli authorities continue to encourage and organise this genocide. Those responsible must be brought to justice. FIDH condemns the absence of a permanent ceasefire, and consequently the absence of any basic prospect (…) | – |
(2024-12-23). Keep infrastructure safe while protesting, urges Human Rights Commission. sanews.gov.za Keep infrastructure safe while protesting, urges Human Rights Commission | The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has urged community members not to damage public infrastructure during protests. | This after protestors vandalised and caused extensive damage to the Bishop Lavis Magistrate Court in the Western Cape during a protest over the weekend. | "The commission strongly condemns any form of attack on public property and infrastructure in the strongest possible terms. Reports indicate that a group of residents breached the security gate at the court, smashed windows, and set parts of the building ablaze over a…
(2024-12-23). Laos: States should ask "Where is Sombath?" at upcoming review of human rights record. fidh.org
(2024-12-23). Palestinian NGO calls on world to protect Gaza hospitals. plenglish.com Ramallah, Dec 23 (Prensa Latina) The Addameer Foundation for Human Rights called for urgent intervention by the international community to protect hospitals, medical staff, and patients in the Gaza Strip from systematic Israeli attacks.
(2024-12-23). Dozens detained, several wounded in Israeli raids in West Bank. presstv.ir Israeli forces have injured several Palestinians and detained dozens more in raids across the occupied West Bank.
(2024-12-23). ICRC Head of Delegation in Syria: Detention Work Remains Our Top Priority. icrc.org 23.12.2024…
(2024-12-23). Press downplays danger of Supreme Court case that threatens Trans rights—among others. mronline.org 
There's no reason to doubt the incoming Republican government will continue its attacks on trans people and their rights, only now with much more power at its disposal.
(2024-12-23). Wisconsin judge strikes down Act 10, the law behind mass 2011 protests. wsws.org Act 10 stripped public sector employees in the state of their collective bargaining rights, allowing them to bargain only over wages—with increases capped at the rate of inflation—while prohibiting negotiations for improved safety, benefits, and working conditions.
(2024-12-23). Call for Africain and International solidarity | No to the criminalization of solidarity | Freedom for activists defending the rights of migrants and refugees. cadtm.org
(2024-12-23). The Least That We Can Do For Palestinians. ummid.com While the international community is yet to translate its verbal solidarity with Palestinians into any meaningful action, the least we could do is to give Palestinians their full rights to express their views and share their pain…
(2024-12-23). Diplomat Raps US for Holding Iranians Hostage. tn.ai TEHRAN (Tasnim) — An Iranian deputy foreign minister lashed out at the US for taking Iranian nationals hostage on the allegation of violation of "illegitimate sanctions" after two Iranians were arrested in the US and Italy.
(2024-12-23). Canadian institutions, individuals sanctioned. ecns.cn China has taken countermeasures against two Canadian institutions and 20 individuals involved in issues related to its Xinjiang Uygur and Xizang autonomous regions, the Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday.
(2024-12-23). Political Economy Contradictions as We Lurch Into 2025. counterpunch.org 
The Republicans (GOP), traditionally the U.S.'s anti-tax party, now promise to use tariffs to wage trade wars, to massively deport immigrants, and to stop drug traffic. But tariffs are simply the name of one kind of tax (on imported goods and services). So the GOP becomes both anti-tax and pro-tax. Likewise, the traditional party of minimal government, today's GOP now favors massive subsidies to industries that big government will select as well as economic sanctions and bans on enterprises and whole countries that big government will select. Beyond the right-wing ideology and financial self-serving, Trump reflec…
(2024-12-23). US hostage-taking of Iranian nationals violation of intl. law: Deputy FM. presstv.ir A senior Iranian diplomat condemned the US move to take Iranian nationals hostage under the guise of circumvention of illegal and unilateral sanctions.
(2024-12-23). Faith organizations have a complex relationship to disaster relief. grist.org 
On the second weekend after Hurricane Helene, Swannanoa Christian Church held its first Sunday service since the storm battered western North Carolina. The sanctuary was piled high with clothes, water, and food, so everyone gathered outdoors. Out in the yard, beneath a clear blue sky and uphill from devastation wrought by the flood, the congregation interspersed prayer with the testimonies of congregants who had pulled people from the water or been pulled from it themselves. | After the service, as congregants lingered to chat or sort donations, Elder Gordon Dasher recounted his church's mission following the…