Human Rights

By Vincent Charles Keating | (The Conversation) | – – There can be no doubt that the swearing in of Donald Trump on January 20 will usher in a new era for the United States. But the president-elect’s open support for torture and waterboarding could mean his inauguration also marks a return to what President […]

Displaced and Refugees

Under Saudi Bombing, Specter of Famine Haunts Yemen’s Children

contributors

By Tharanga Yakupitiyage | (Inter Press Service) | – – UNITED NATIONS, Jan 6 2017 (IPS) – Millions of Yemenis could soon face widespread famine if no action is taken to improve food access through humanitarian or trade means, an early warning system has said. Up to eight million Yemenis are severely food insecure while […]

Egypt

Pain and torture: state violence in Egypt

contributors

By Maged Mandour | ( OpenDemocracy.net) | – – The root of state violence and torture is not poor police training, nor a political decision that can be reversed, it is the nature of the regime and the political order it has created. Arabic on the banner reads, “remove our shackles.” Cairo. 3 May 2016. […]

Democracy

5 Surprising Signs of Positive Change in 2016

Juan Cole

Sarah van Gelder | (Yes! Magazine) The election divided the year into “before” and “after.” But there remain signs of hope for 2017. It was a year blown up by the election results. There are now two very different 2016s—the one before and the one after we learned that Donald Trump would become president of […]

Human Rights

Israeli TV Regulators Ban Ad for Calling Out Racism, Homophobia

contributors

By IMEMC | – – Calling Palestinian rights ‘problematic’ and LGBT rights a matter ‘in public dispute,’ the TV authority bans a public service announcement by Association for Civil Rights in Israel. The Second Authority for Television and Radio (SATR), a public body that supervises Israeli commercial television and radio stations, banned a public service […]

Iraq

Iraq: ISIL Attacking Civilians in Mosul Retreat

contributors

Human Rights Watch | – – Calls ‘Unbelievers’ Valid Targets (Erbil) – Fighters with the [so-called] Islamic State [Group} (also known as ISIL) have indiscriminately attacked civilian areas in eastern Mosul with mortar rounds and explosives, and deliberately shot at fleeing residents, Human Rights Watch said today. Iraqi and coalition forces have also killed and […]

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia Admits to Using Illegal UK Cluster Bombs in Yemen

contributors

TeleSur | – – “If Saudi forces are prepared to use cluster bombs, then why is the U.K. continuing to arm and support the regime?” a campaigner asked. Saudi Arabia admitted Monday it used illegal U.K.-made cluster bombs in Yemen as the Gulf state continues its aggressive air campaign there, backed with the help of […]

Donald Trump

Donald Trump claims torture ‘works’ – but what does the science say?

contributors

By Coral Dando | (The Conversation) | – – The US president-elect Donald Trump has on several occasions insisted that torture is a good idea and that procedures such as water-boarding are not “tough enough” when dealing with terrorist groups like Islamic State. The view is clearly morally and ethically questionable. But if we put […]

Children

A Yemeni Child Dies Every 10 Minutes as Saudi Attacks Continue

contributors

TeleSur | – – The U.N. said malnutrition and other preventable diseases are killing thousands of children in Yemen as its health system is on the verge of collapse. Every 10 minutes at least one Yemeni child dies of preventable diseases such as malnutrition, diarrhea, and respiratory tract infections, the United Nations said Tuesday, blaming […]