(2026-02-09). Guterres Condemns Escalating Violence In South Sudan As Aid Operations Come Under Fire. eurasiareview.com The UN Secretary-General has strongly condemned the surge in violence across South Sudan, warning that civilians and aid workers are paying a devastating price as humanitarian operations are increasingly targeted. | In a statement issued by his Deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Haq on Saturday, the UN chief said nearly 10 million people — "more than two thirds of the population" — now require life-saving humanitarian assistance and "continue to bear the brunt of the conflict". | He expressed grave concern over fighting, attacks and looting affecting humanitarian and health facilities, as well as movement…
(2026-02-09). Chad: Sudanese families separated by conflict find hope one phone call at a time. icrc.org
(2026-02-09). President Herzog arrives in Australia for official visit to relations between Israel and Australia back on. haaretz.com Australian lawyers said police could potentially arrest Herzog on suspicion of inciting genocide, a crime under Australian and international law. Herzog said his visit 'engulfs both bereavement and condolences, as well as a message of friendship' between Israel and Australia…
(2026-02-09). Tensions Soar Over Herzog Visit. consortiumnews.com After the Bondi massacre and new hate laws, a visit to Australia beginning Monday by the Israeli president named in the ICJ genocide case is raising tensions as Herzog seals Israel's victory in Oz, writes Joe Lauria. By Joe Lauria…
(2026-02-09). Kazakhstan: Alarming arbitrary arrest, detention and judicial harassment of 19 human rights activists, including seven-month-pregnant Nazigul Maksutkhan. fidh.org
(2026-02-09). United Nations treaty on business and human rights: New language is out, but some gaps persist. fidh.org
(2026-02-09). Ensuring victims' rights in the future crimes against humanity convention. fidh.org The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), jointly with REDRESS and other organisations, voice their support for the adoption of a Convention on the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity and make recommendations to ensure a victim-centred approach in the future Convention.
Paris, New York, 23 January 2026. As the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on Prevention and Punishment of Crimes (…) | – |
(2026-02-09). Georgia Initiates Laws Severely Curtailing Civil and Political Rights. hrw.org Click to expand Image | The Parliament Building in Tbilisi, Georgia. | © 2025 Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via AP Photo | Georgia's ruling party proposed on January 28 a new package of legislation that would criminalize core civic activity and erect sweeping barriers to political participation.If adopted, the draft laws would make it a criminal offense to receive foreign funding without prior government authorization, punishable by up to six years in prison. The bill defines a "foreign grant" as any funding or material support received from abroad that authorities deem intended to influence a public authority…
(2026-02-08). Trump seeks to make 'Board of Peace' alternative to UN: Palestinian officials. ecns.cn President Donald Trump seeks to make the so-called "Board of Peace" an alternative to the UN, Palestinian officials said here on Sunday.Saidam said that the Palestinian side fears that Trump remains determined to pursue projects that exclude Palestinians, erase their rights, and promote displacement.
(2026-02-09). Iran's Nobel winner Narges Mohammadi faces new prison term of more than seven years. geo.tv 
Iranian human rights activist and the vice president of the Defenders of Human Rights Center Narges Mohammadi poses in this undated handout picture.— Reuters Laureate ended week-long hunger strike on Sunday protesting detention.She was arrested in Dec for decrying…
(2026-02-09). Yemen: Houthis Arbitrarily Detain, Disappear Christians. hrw.org Click to expand Image | Houthi police soldiers patrol during a protest in Sana'a, Yemen, on February 16, 2024. | © 2024 Mohammed Hamoud/Getty Images | (Beirut) — Houthi authorities have arbitrarily arrested over 20 Christians in Yemen over the last three months, Human Rights Watch said today. The Houthis should immediately release them, along with the hundreds of others they are arbitrarily detaining across the areas of Yemen under their control."Rather than addressing the alarming rates of hunger that Yemenis are facing, the Houthis seem to only know how to arrest and detain people," said Niku Jafa…
(2026-02-09). Sunday 2/22: Immigrant Rights Sunday at La Peña: Day Laborers Speak Out. indybay.org La Peña Cultural Cener | 3105 Shattuck Ave. Berkeley…
(2026-02-09). Azerbaijan: Unlawfully Detained Women Journalists Face Sexual Violence amidst On-going Crackdown on Civil Society. fidh.org The undersigned organisations, including the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (FIDH-OMCT), express their serious concern regarding the recent letter of Azerbaijani journalist Aysel Umudova sent to media outlets from Baku Pre-trial Investigation Facility, in which she has reported being subjected to sexual harassment and ill-treatment by police officers during her arrest on 6 December 2024. Umudova's letter published in December 2025 echoes the earlier case of a (…) | – |
(2026-02-09). Uganda: Arbitrary arrest and pre-trial detention of eight environmental rights defenders. fidh.org
(2026-02-09). Niger: Military Drone Strike Kills 17 Civilians. hrw.org Click to expand Image | Screenshot of a video showing the aftermath of the January 6, 2026 military strike in Kokoloko, Niger. | © 2026 Private | (Nairobi) — An apparent Nigerien military drone strike killed at least 17 civilians, including 4 children, and injured at least 13 others at a crowded market in western Niger on January 6, 2026, Human Rights Watch said today. The strike, which also killed three Islamist fighters, violated laws-of-war prohibitions against indiscriminate attacks and might amount to a war crime.The attack occurred in the village of Kokoloko in Tillabéri region, about 120 kilo…
(2026-02-09). Russia: Alarming arbitrary arrest, detention and judicial harassment of Ms Daria Egereva, indigenous peoples' rights defender. fidh.org
(2026-02-09). What Do Minnesota and Venezuela Have in Common? fpif.org Former President Donald Trump has begun to speak openly about placing the federal government in charge of overseeing elections in as many as 15 states where, he claims, corruption is rampant. What might Minnesota and Venezuela have in common under this framing? The answer points toward an emerging imperial logic of rule—one that increasingly displaces the constraints associated with the United States as a constitutional republic. | Trump's approach follows the logic of the South's Lost Cause, now scaled up to the national level. This logic implies not merely the containment of the civil rights revolution, b…
(2026-02-09). Monday 2/9: Webinar: The Attacks on Professional Associations: What to Know and How to Respond. indybay.org Zoom | us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_P-ry……
(2026-02-09). Gaza: Severe winter conditions compound humanitarian crisis for displaced Palestinians. icrc.org
(2026-02-09). A crossing without relief: Why Rafah's reopening has failed Gaza>. newarab.com 
partial reopening of the Rafah crossing, under the second phase of the Preventing what could have been a major breakthrough after almost two years of closure, official data reveals the full scale of the crisis.
(2026-02-09). When ICE Becomes the Face of a Wider Legitimacy Crisis. counterpunch.org 
Why has ICE become a national flashpoint even for people who are not at immediate risk of deportation? The answer isn't simply immigration policy. It is legitimacy. Under this administration, enforcement has become a public language of governance—highly visible, often forceful, and paired with thinner transparency and weaker restraint. Start with what ICE says it
(2026-02-09). Two ships set sail from Mexico with humanitarian aid for Cuba. radiohc.cu 
The Mexican Navy's logistics support ships Papaloapan and Isla Holbox set sail this Sunday from the port of Veracruz with 814 tons of food supplies for the people of Cuba, amidst an escalation in the United States' economic war, which has reinforced restrictions on oil shipments to the Caribbean island, where there is a difficult economic situation and an energy crisis. | The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the shipment of aid, which is expected to arrive at a Cuban port in about four days, in a humanitarian and solidarity action following instructions from President Claudia Sheinbaum. | Mexico sets sail w…
(2026-02-09). "Ensnared" and "Manipulated" : Official Statement by Valéria Chomsky Regarding Jeffrey Epstein. counterpunch.org 
As many are aware, my husband, Noam Chomsky, now 97, is confronting significant health challenges after suffering a devastating stroke in June 2023. Currently, Noam is under 24/7 medical care and is completely unable to speak or engage in public discourse. Since this health crisis, I have been entirely absorbed in Noam's treatment and recovery,
(2026-02-09). Hardening and resilience: The Russo-Ukrainian conflict as a reflection of civilizational forces. strategic-culture.su
(2026-02-09). Nigeria: ISWAP Turns To Armed Drones. eurasiareview.com In mid-January, Nigerian troops serving in Operation Hadin Kai raided an Islamic State West Africa Province hideout in the Timbuktu Triangle in Borno State. As the troops advanced on the base, armed drones attacked them. | A new report by The Premium Times news outlet suggests that terrorist group, also known as ISWAP, plans to increase its use of armed drones against Nigerian military forces in the northeast. The report appeared as Nigerian troops are increasing pressure on ISWAP across Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. On several occasions in January, troops fought with ISWAP forces and cleared abandoned hideo…
(2026-02-09). Israel abducts al-Jamaa al-Islamiya official in south Lebanon. newarab.com 
Israeli forces infiltrated a village in southern Lebanon overnight and abducted an official from al-Jamaa al-Islamiya, according to statements from both the group and the Israeli military, while an airstrike killed three people including a child. | Al-Jamaa al-Islamiya (the Islamic Group) said Israeli forces crossed into the village of al-Habbariyeh in the Hasbaya district after midnight and seized Atwi Atwi, who heads the group's Hasbaya and Marjaayoun areas. | The village lies close to the Israeli border, near Chebaa and Kfar Shouba, parts of which have remained under Israeli occupation for decades. | Condemnin…
(2026-02-09). ICRC President: Respect for international humanitarian law preserves pathways back to peace. icrc.org Speech given by Mirjana Spoljaric, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross: Maastricht Die Natalis — Honorary Doctorate Ceremony…
(2026-02-09). China: Briefing for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on principled humanitarian action. icrc.org
(2026-02-09). ICRC president: States must harness momentum to improve Gaza's dire humanitarian situation in next phase of ceasefire. icrc.org The following is a quote attributable to ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric on the urgent need to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
(2026-02-09). Syria: ICRC concerned over worsening humanitarian situation. icrc.org
(2026-02-09). The Global International Humanitarian Law Initiative to hold a High-level Conference on Humanity in War in Jordan in 2026. icrc.org
(2026-02-09). Please understand that nothing will be done about the Epstein files. strategic-culture.su By Caitlin JOHNSTONE | Join us on , , and . | Contact us: | The power structure which birthed the Epstein abuses is not going to do anyt…
(2026-02-09). Roaming Charges: If You're Not a Scumbag, You're a Nobody. counterpunch.org 
If the ranks of ICE had been filled by a draft, we wouldn't be seeing this kind of mass brutality. Normal human beings would recoil from committing daily acts of violence against defenseless people and would question the psychological health of those giving them orders to do so, as we ultimately saw in Vietnam. But instead, ICE is populated by people who signed up for this, people who are eager to terrorize, abuse and inflict gratuitous brutality on others. Sadists, in other words.
(2026-02-09). Milwaukee4Palestine, Feb. 19, 2026: Teach-in: Ban Deadly Exchanges, Stop US Police Terr*r. wibailoutpeople.org 
Dear M4P Community, For this month's volunteer meeting, we are hosting a teach-in with our siblings at Our Beautiful Struggle. The teach-in will cover our campaigns to ban deadly police exchanges between "Israel" & Milwaukee, the greater context & long history of U.S. police terror in our communities, and what we must do to stop it …
(2026-02-09). Selective context: Why Isaac Herzog's visit deepens Australia's moral failure. independentaustralia.net 
(2026-02-09). South Africa Withdraws Troop Contribution To MONUSCO. eurasiareview.com President Cyril Ramaphosa has informed the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, of the South African government's decision to withdraw its contribution of soldiers to the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO). | In a statement on Saturday, the Presidency said South Africa ranks amongst the top ten troop contributing countries to MONUSCO, with a force presence of over 700 soldiers deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in support of the Mission's peacekeeping mandate. | In a telephone conversation held on 12 January 2026, Presi…
(2026-02-09). Cambodia-Thailand: ICRC supports release and repatriation of 18 prisoners of war. icrc.org
(2026-02-09). Berlin Rally Backs Iran's Democratic Revolution, Rejects Dictatorship, Turnout Estimated At Over 100,000 OpEd. eurasiareview.com Under the freezing skies of Berlin, with temperatures dropping well below zero, more than 100,000 Iranians and international supporters gathered at the historic Brandenburg Gate, according to the The rally, held to mark the anniversary…
(2026-02-09). Expert explains why Paris supports coups in Africa. eng.belta.by The expert emphasized that recent U.S. actions have given some countries reason to emulate them. For instance, Paris was involved in an attempted coup d'état in Burkina Faso in early January.
(2026-02-09). Head of Belarusian medical team assesses medical effort at Olympic Games. eng.belta.by Doctors at the Olympics are no less important than coaches and technical support staff. While their work may not be as visible to spectators or as interesting to journalists, it is indispensable.
(2026-02-09). Canadian Catholic Bishops Join Members Of Parliament In Push To Restrict Medical Aid In Dying. eurasiareview.com By Terry O'Neill | Two legislative efforts to limit Canada's medical aid in dying (MAID) framework converged Thursday, with Conservative member of Parliament (MP) Garnett Genuis announcing a bill focused on MAID coercion and the Catholic bishops supporting legislation to prohibit assisted dying for mental illness. | Genuis introduced a private member's bill Feb. 5 that would amend the Criminal Code to prohibit any federal or provincial government employee in a position of authority, other than a doctor or nurse, from initiating a discussion about medical aid in dying. | Genuis said Bill C-260, "An Act to amend…
(2026-02-09). Trump's Destruction of Diplomacy and Disarmament. counterpunch.org 
In one year, Donald Trump has managed to disarm Congress and put our Constitution on life support. The separation of powers has been breached, and our checks and balances have been compromised. Trump's latest victims are diplomacy and disarmament, a tragedy that few Americans understand. Last week's tragic demise of the New START Treaty is the latest marker in the decline of the United States.
(2026-02-09). Environmental legislation supports sustainable development. sanews.gov.za Environmental legislation supports sustainable development | The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp, has assured the mining community that environmental legislation and regulations are not designed to hinder development, but to ensure that it is responsible, sustainable and resilient in the long term. ⚪ "In fact, they are inseparable and can yield much-needed economic benefit for all South Africans. Striking the balance is often difficult because South Africans need and want economic development, but not at the expense of the environment," the Minister said on Sunday. ⚪ Aucamp wa…
(2026-02-09). Joint Base Lewis-McChord Supporting ICE Operations. indybay.org The Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) Protection Division / Anti-Terrorism Office in Washington State – a part of the JBLM Directorate of Emergency Services (DES) is working closely with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), supporting their enforcement efforts in throughout Washington and Oregon.
(2026-02-09). Three months in, Shenzhou-21 crew continue experiments, do maintenance. ecns.cn The Shenzhou-21 crew inside the China Space Station.The returned samples will support research into how long-duration missions affect astronauts' skeletal, neural, and cerebrovascular systems, as well as the mechanisms behind physiological adaptation.
(2026-02-09). Israeli army kills four Palestinians in Gaza's Rafah. newarab.com 
The Israeli military said it killed four Palestinians who they claimed attacked its troops as they emerged from a tunnel in southern Gaza's Despite a US-brokered truce entering its second phase last month, Israeli violence has continued in the Gaza Strip, with troops having killed more than 500 Palestinians since 10 October. | "A short while ago, four armed terrorists exited an underground tunnel shaft and fired towar…
(2026-02-09). Steadfast Resistance under Occupation from Minneapolis to Palestine. juancole.com
(2026-02-09). DR Congo: As more people are wounded in South Kivu violence, they struggle to get treatment. icrc.org
(2026-02-09). Complementing existing protections in armed conflicts and other situations of violence. icrc.org