(2020-12-30). Civil Rights Groups Fight Back Against Georgia's Voter Purges. zcomm.org The importance of the January 5 Senate runoff elections in Georgia cannot be overestimated…
(2020-12-30). A rave, a DJ and a debate. Palestinians outraged over techno party at holy site. middleeasteye.net 
A rave, a DJ and a debate. Palestinians outraged over techno party at holy site | Despite issuing an event permit, the Palestinian government arrests renowned Palestinian DJ Sama Abdulhadi and extend her detention for 15 days | Wed, 12/30/2020 – 12: 26 | Palestinian DJ Sama Abdulhadi poses outside her Parisian flat during a photo session on 7 December 2017 (AFP) | A dance party on Saturday has c…
(2020-12-30). 'Sold out': Uighurs fear deportation as China ratifies extradition treaty with Turkey. middleeasteye.net 
'Sold out': Uighurs fear deportation as China ratifies extradition treaty with Turkey | Uighur activists urge Turkish government not to abide by agreement that could put tens of thousands at risk of being detained in internment camps
| Wed, 12/30/2020 – 10: 17 | Supporters of China's Muslim Uighur minority protest in Istanbul against B…
(2020-12-30). Prominent Moroccan historian and human rights activist arrested in Rabat. middleeasteye.net 
Prominent Moroccan historian and human rights activist arrested in Rabat | Maati Monjib, who has been targeted by authorities using Israeli spyware, is accused of money laundering | Wed, 12/30/2020 – 11: 36 | Maati Monjib, a Moroccan historian, political analyst and human rights activist, speaks in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, 20 February 2014 (AFP) | Moroccan historian and human rights activist Maati Monjib w…
(2020-12-30). Why Senators Must Reject Avril Haines for Intelligence. zcomm.org Haines's record on torture and drones alone should be enough for Senators to reject her nomination.
(2020-12-30). UN human rights expert calls for withdrawal of US sanctions on Syria. peoplesdispatch.org Alena Douhan, the UN special rapporteur about the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures on human rights, said the US sanctions violated the human rights of the Syrian people…
(2020-12-30). Brazil: Bolsonaro's Remarks Targeting Rousseff Spark Critics. telesurenglish.net Brazil's former President Dilma Rousseff (2011-2016) on Tuesday condemned spiteful comments made by far-right President Jair Bolsonaro who discarded acts of torture committed against her during the dictatorship's rule (1964-1985). | RELATED: | Previously, through a video posted on social networks, Bolsonaro cast doubts on acts of torture committed against Rousseff during her years of imprisonment and requested an X-ray sho…
(2020-12-30). Bangladesh urges UN to participate in Rohingya relocation process. laprensalatina.com Dhaka, Dec 30 (efe-epa).- The government of Bangladesh said on Wednesday that it was ready to involve the United Nations in the process of relocating Rohingya refugees to a remote island, after a barrage of criticism by rights groups over the lack of transparency in the transfers. The government urged the UN to join the …
(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… …
(2020-12-29). Why Senators Must Reject Avril Haines for Intelligence. mintpressnews.com 
This unassuming spy may look and sound like your favorite college professor, but that facade masks a ruthless wolf in sheep's clothing who enabled murder by remote control and wielded a thick black pen to cover-up CIA torture.
(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). Russia's FSB dismantles international drug smuggling ring, seizes $13.6 million worth of drugs in joint operation with US (VIDEO). rt.com 
In a rare collaborative effort, elite Russian and American law enforcement officials have busted a transnational criminal gang smuggling cocaine from South America to Europe, seizing 330 kilograms of the illegal drug. | The drug smuggling chain was busted as a result of a "months-long multi-stage international operation," Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that the first members of the gang were detained as early as in May. The operation was conducted together with the US Justice Department's Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS). | "In close cooperation with in…
(2020-12-29). Russia's FSB dismantles international drug smuggling ring, seizes $13.6mn worth of drugs in joint operation with US (VIDEO). rt.com In a rare collaborative effort, Russian and American law enforcement officials have busted a transnational criminal gang smuggling cocaine from South America to Europe, seizing 330 kilograms of the drug. | The drug smuggling chain was busted as a result of a "months-long multi-stage international operation," Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that the first members of the gang were detained as early as in May. The operation was conducted together with the US Justice Department's Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS). | "In close cooperation with international pa…
(2020-12-29). Russia and Turkey to continue military cooperation despite US sanctions. middleeasteye.net 
Russia and Turkey to continue military cooperation despite US sanctions | Russian foreign minister says Moscow and Ankara will not be deterred by US sanctions over acquisition of S-400 missile system | Tue, 12/29/2020 – 16: 13 | Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu meets with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov (AFP) | Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said military cooperation with Turkey would no…
(2020-12-29). Argentineans to Hold Vigil in Support of Safe Abortion Bill. telesurenglish.net Argentina's feminist movements Tuesday called for a vigil in front of Congress to accompany the Senate vote on the Safe Abortion bill. | RELATED: | The vote, which will begin on Tuesday afternoon and end on Wednesday morning, will also be accompanied by anti-abortion demonstrations. | The square in front of the Congress will be divided with a fence. The left side will be set for women's rights activists, while the right si…
(2020-12-29). Want Bargaining Rights with That? progressive.org Two new bills are protecting fast-food workers in New York City from being fired without just cause.
(2020-12-29). Netherlands violates nationality rights: UN rights committee. news.un.org The Netherlands has violated a child's rights by registering children under the category "nationality unknown" as opposed to Stateless — leaving them ineligible to access international protections, the UN Human Rights Committee ‚ÄØdeclared‚ÄØon Tuesday.
(2020-12-29). Biden Chooses Tom "Mr. Monsanto" Vilsack As Agriculture Secretary. popularresistance.org After weeks of rumors, President-elect Joe Biden confirmed last week that he has picked Tom Vilsack as his secretary of agriculture. Vilsack previously held the position under the Obama administration, from 2009 to 2017. This decision has disappointed many progressive Democrats who were hoping Biden's cabinet picks would include a more diverse coalition and signal a push to the left. Vilsack, on the contrary, is quite literally more of the same: a wealthy white man and establishment Democrat with countless corporate interests and an atrocious record on climate change and civil rights. | We should not be surprised…
(2020-12-29). In 'Monumental Win for Reproductive Freedom,' Mass. Lawmakers Override Governor's Veto to Affirm and Expand Abortion Rights. commondreams.org A coalition of supporters celebrated the development as "an important step in removing medically unnecessary barriers to abortion care." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2020-12-29). NGOs denounce holding Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia despite repression. laprensalatina.com Beirut, Dec 29 (efe-epa).- The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and other associated NGOs on Tuesday criticized the decision to hold the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia for a second consecutive year, despite ongoing repression, including the recent jailing of a woman's rights activist. "A year later, the repression orchestrated by the Saudi authorities …
(2020-12-28). UN Rapporteur To Analyze Impacts of US Sanctions on Venezuela. telesurenglish.net Following an invitation of President Nicolas Maduro's administration, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, Alena Douhan, will undertake an official visit to country in February 2021. | RELATED: | The Special Rapporteur and her team will collect information and hold a series of meetings with Government authorities, social organizations, private sector,…
(2020-12-28). "I Just Felt Like I Had No Control Over My Body": Survivors of Alleged ICE Medical Abuse Speak Out. democracynow.org 
Dozens of immigrant women detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Irwin County Detention Center in Georgia have joined a class-action lawsuit against ICE over allegations they were subjected to nonconsensual and invasive gynecological procedures and surgeries that were later found to be unnecessary, and in some cases left them unable to have children. The lawsuit cites sworn testimony from at least 35 women about their treatment by Mahendra Amin, a physician in Ocilla, Georgia, and describes retaliation and threats of deportation for speaking out. "We have more than 40 women who filed sworn testimo…
(2020-12-28). Suspect detained in Shanghai poisoning of Netflix producer & 'Game of Thrones' games developer, Yoozoo billionaire Lin Qi. rt.com 
Lin Qi, a Chinese video game tycoon who was co-producing a new Netflix sci-fi series with the 'Game of Thrones' showrunners, died from alleged poisoning on Friday. Shanghai police now say they've detained a suspect, a co-worker. | The 39-year-old, who is the founder of Chinese entertainment company Yoozoo, was rushed to hospital in Shanghai on December 17 after he felt unwell; he died a week later. Local media have speculated that his tea had been spiked after a dispute among the executives. | "According to investigations on site and further interviews, the police found that a suspect surnamed Xu, who is a co-…
(2020-12-28). Saudi rights activist launches hunger strike over conditions at al-Hair prison. middleeasteye.net 
Saudi rights activist launches hunger strike over conditions at al-Hair prison | Former economics professor Mohammed Fahad al-Qahtani becomes latest political detainee to challenge conditions at notorious Saudi facility | Mon, 12/28/2020 – 13: 28 | Mohammed Fahad al-Qahtani, a Saudi professor and human rights activist, has been detained since 2012 (Screengrab/Twitter) | Jailed Saudi human rights activ…
(2020-12-28). Biden adviser slams Saudi sentencing of rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul. middleeasteye.net 
Biden adviser slams Saudi sentencing of rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul | Jake Sullivan calls nearly six-year sentence handed down to women's rights activist 'unjust and troubling' | Mon, 12/28/2020 – 20: 04 | "> | US President-elect Joe Biden's national security adviser has condemned Saudi Arabia over its sentencing of women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul on terrorism c…
(2020-12-28). Conviction of Loujain al-Hathloul in Saudi Arabia Condemned as 'Blatant Attack on the Most Basic Human Rights'. commondreams.org "We stand with the al-Hathloul family and their friends who have not given up, and continue to call on the Saudi government to free Loujain," said Ariel Gold of CodePink. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2020-12-28). The Political Economy of Corruption in Korea: Corruption Kills People, Ruins the Economy, Violates Human Rights. globalresearch.ca The whole world is facing the deepening and widening corruption which challenges the very survival of the free democracy and the free market economy. | Korea has been suffering for last 70 years from the corruption culture. But owing to courageous …
(2020-12-28). Overcoming all problems, neutralizing sanctions "possible" en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 28 (MNA) — Iran's Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Seyyed Ebrahim Raeisi said that it is possible to overcome all problems and defusing sanctions, so that this strategy should be pursued seriously.
(2020-12-28). Lifting sanctions, nation's health, livelihood top proiority. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 28 (MNA) — Iranian President Rouhani said on Mon. that in the few months left of his tenure, his administration has the Iranian nation's health and their livelihood besides breaking the sanctions at its top priority.
(2020-12-28). Tuesday 1/26: Dolores Huerta & Luis Valdez on the Farm Worker Rights History of Santa Clara Valley. indybay.org Online event…
(2020-12-28). Post-Brexit Trade Deal Risks Erosion of UK Workers' Rights. telesurenglish.net Britain's post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union (EU) leaves workers' rights and environmental protection at risk of erosion and will slow the country's economic recovery, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), a London-based think tank, warned Sunday. | RELATED: | The agreement offers clear benefits to Britain and the EU, which would have been lost if no deal had been negotiated. However, its commitments on labor and environmental standards…
(2020-12-28). Alex Saab Case: 'One Of The Most Egregious Examples Of Jurisdictional Overreach'. popularresistance.org Baltasar Garzón, former Spanish judge who is the defense attorney for Venezuelan diplomatic envoy àÅlex Saab, reiterated during an interview with the Colombian newspaper El Espectador that his client is a special envoy of the Government of Venezuela who works as a diplomatic agent for commercial and trade purposes, and that he was illegally detained by the Cape Verdean authorities in a process that violated international law in addition to violating his rights that are inherent to diplomatic immunity established in global laws. | The interview was offered by Garzón on the occasion of completion of 6 months…
(2020-12-28). China court confirms prison sentence to human rights lawyer. laprensalatina.com Beijing, Dec 28 (efe-epa)- A court in the eastern Chinese province of Jiangsu has confirmed a 4-year prison sentence to well-known human rights lawyer Yu Wensheng for inciting subversion against state power, his wife Xu Yan informed EFE on Monday. According to Xu, the defense attorneys she hired to appeal the sentence, Lin Qilei and …
(2020-12-27). US Economic Sanctions On Cuba In The context Of The COVID-19 Pandemic. popularresistance.org On March 12, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic.1 Shortly after that, on Friday, March 26, during his participation in a virtual summit of leaders from the G20 countries, UN Secretary-General António Guterres appealed for the waiving of sanctions that could undermine countries' capacities to respond to the pandemic.2 A few days later,the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Hilal Elver, made a similar call for the immediate lifting of international sanctions to prevent hunger crises in countries hit by the pandemic: "The continued imposition of crippling economic sanctions on S…
(2020-12-27). Absolute 'cowboys!' Kremlin compares US attempts to sink Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to 'raider attack' as construction continues. rt.com 
Russia has lashed out at Washington's attempts to shoot down plans for the world's largest gas pipeline, in the Baltic Sea, arguing that America is trying to lasso the European energy market for its own corporate giants. | Speaking to journalists on Sunday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Rossiya 1 news channel that the new wave of sanctions against companies involved in the construction are "an absolutely naked, cowboy-like raider attack." | While many European firms had been anticipating a gold rush as a result of the $18 billion project, they have since found themselves held at pistol-point by the…
(2020-12-27). Washington's favorite Venezuelan opposition leader exposes links to Colombian paramilitary and narco networks. thegrayzone.com While the US government and media glorify Leopoldo López as a new MLK, the Venezuelan opposition leader collaborates with Colombia's narco-affiliated, death squad-sponsoring former President àÅlvaro Uribe and his protegé Iván Duque. According to Western corporate media outlets and human rights groups, Venezuela's far-right opposition leader Leopoldo López is a hallowed saint. The New York Times glorified López as the would-be "savior" of Venezuela, akin to none other than Martin Luther King Jr., while Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International …
(2020-12-27). Washington's favorite Venezuelan opposition leader exposes links to Colombian death squads and narco networks. thegrayzone.com While the US government and media glorify Leopoldo López as a new MLK, the Venezuelan opposition leader collaborates with Colombia's narco-affiliated, death squad-sponsoring former President àÅlvaro Uribe and his protegé Iván Duque. According to Western corporate media outlets and human rights groups, Venezuela's far-right opposition leader Leopoldo López is a hallowed saint. The New York Times glorified López as the would-be "savior" of Venezuela, akin to none other than Martin Luther King Jr., while Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International …
(2020-12-27). Washington's favorite Venezuelan opposition leader exposes links with Colombian paramilitary and narco networks. thegrayzone.com While the US and its allies glorify Leopoldo López as a new MLK, the US-backed Venezuelan opposition collaborates with Colombia's narco-affiliated, death squad-sponsoring former President àÅlvaro Uribe. According to Western corporate media outlets and human rights groups, Venezuela's far-right opposition leader Leopoldo López is a hallowed saint. The New York Times glorified López as the would-be "savior" of Venezuela, akin to none other than Martin Luther King Jr., while Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have dubbed him a noble …
(2020-12-27). Battle Brewing In Canada Over Rights Of Indigenous Peoples. popularresistance.org Non-Indigenous opponents fear it would give First Nations, Inuit and Metis too much power. Indigenous opponents fear it won't give them enough. Supporters tout it as a leap forward on rights, title and reconciliation. Detractors say it strengthens the shackles of the colonial status quo. | A battle is brewing over UNDRIP in and outside the halls of power — and a whole lot remains unclear. | "As with any law, there's unknowns," said professor and legal scholar John Borrows, reached by phone a day after Justice Minister David Lametti tabled Bill C-15 in the House of Commons. | "There's unknowns with our Const…
(2020-12-27). MPs condemn US sanctions on Al-Mustafa Intl. University. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 27 (MNA) — More than 175 Iranian lawmakers in a statement on Sunday strongly condemned sanctions imposed by US Treasury Department on Al-Mustafa International University.
(2020-12-27). The 2020s Bring The Crises We Face Into Clear Focus. popularresistance.org The 2020s is the beginning of an era in which the roots of the crises we face are coming into clear focus. The Trump administration openly exposed these crises through its candid disdain for the wellbeing of people and the planet. But the systems that are bringing our demise – capitalism, white supremacy, racism, colonialism, patriarchy and imperialism – have been in place for a long time, since the founding of the United States on stolen land using forced labor. | I interviewed Miko Peled, an author and activist for Palestinian rights, on Clearing the FOG this week about current affairs in the Occupied Palestini…
(2020-12-27). Relatives, Activists, and Attorneys Demand Justice for Andre' Hill, Unarmed Black Man Killed by Columbus Police. commondreams.org "Until we get justice for Andre' Hill, there won't be no peace in Columbus, there won't be no peace in Ohio, there won't be no peace in America," vowed civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump at a Saturday vigil. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2020-12-27). DOJ Charges Walmart With Illegally Dispensing and Distributing Opioids. truthout.org More than two years after the federal government was preparing to indict Walmart on charges of illegally dispensing opioids, the U.S. Department of Justice is finally taking action. But it's seeking a financial penalty, not the criminal sanction prosecutors had pushed for. | On Tuesday, the Department of Justice brought a civil suit against Walmart in U.S. District Court in Delaware, accusing the retailing behemoth of illegally dispensing and distributing opioids, helping to fuel a health crisis th…
(2020-12-26). 'Freedom Is Blossoming': After Dismembering a Journalist, Saudi Arabia Goes on a PR Spree. commondreams.org Behind the media and money blitz, the kingdom remains one of the world's worst human rights violators—both at home and abroad. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …