(2026-01-21). South Sudan After the Pilgrimage: When Moral Attention Isn't Enough. counterpunch.org 
Nearly two years after Pope Francis's unprecedented ecumenical pilgrimage to South Sudan, the country is once again sliding towards violence, underscoring the futility of moral attention without political follow-through. The February 2023 visit, undertaken alongside the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Iain
(2026-01-21). Sudan: Call on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to release journalist Muammar Ibrahim. fidh.org The undersigned organisations, including FIDH and OMCT within the framework of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, journalists, express serious concern regarding the detention of Sudanese journalist Muammar Ibrahim by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Mr Ibrahim has been held since 26 October 2025, following his detention in El-Fasher, North Darfur.
According to available information, RSF detained Muammar Ibrahim while he was attempting to leave El-Fasher amid (…) | – |
(2026-01-21). PSG falter as Suarez leads Sporting to victory. tribune.com.pk 
Holders Paris St Germain slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Portuguese side Sporting on Tuesday, jeopardising their bid to qualify directly for the Champions League last 16 after Luis Suarez struck twice, netting the winner in the final minute. | Sporting went ahead through Suarez against the run of play in the second half, despite sustained pressure from PSG. | The French champions hit back quickly as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia levelled with a superb strike, appearing to salvage a point. | Suarez, however, struck again in the dying moments to snatch victory for Sporting, leaving both teams on 13 points and inside the top…
(2026-01-21). Trump's Board of Peace for Gaza is Distraction, not Solution. ummid.com Gaza does not suffer from a deficit of ideas, administrators, or plans. It suffers from occupation, siege, apartheid, and genocide.
(2026-01-21). Jeremy Rose: Mexico the revolution isn't being televised. asiapacificreport.nz Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's support for resettling Palestinian children orphaned by Israel's genocide in Gaza barely rates a mention, reports Towards Democracy. COMMENTARY: By Jeremy Rose At the beginning of last month, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stood in front of an estimated 600,000 supporters in Zócalo Square and reflected on the achievements of her first…
(2026-01-21). 'We kill enemies' spy firm Palantir secures top Australian security clearance. asiapacificreport.nz 
SPECIAL REPORT: By Stephanie Tran US cybersecurity company Palantir has received a high-level Australian government security assessment despite concerns about its surveillance and complicity in the Gaza genocide in occupied Palestine. In November 2025, Palantir Technologies was assessed as meeting the protected level under the Australian Information Security Registered Assessors Programme (IRAP). This protection…
(2026-01-21). Australia: Bipartisan deal exploits Bondi shootings to impose expanded "hate crime" laws. wsws.org The Labor government's bill allows for the outlawing of political groups and imprisonment of their supporters on the false basis that opposition to the ongoing Gaza genocide constitutes antisemitic hatred of Jews.
(2026-01-21). Arab rights group urges UK to sanction Netanyahu over "incitement to genocide" in Gaza. radiohc.cu An Arab human rights group has called on the United Kingdom to impose targeted sanctions on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over "incitement to violence and genocide" against Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. | The request was submitted on Tuesday to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) by British law firm Deighton Pierce Glynn on behalf of the Arab Organization for Human Rights UK (AOHR UK), calling for financial and travel restrictions against Netanyahu. | The submission cites Netanyahu's statements rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state and employing "rel…
(2026-01-21). Video: Israeli man sparks outrage for kicking stray cat. albawaba.com ALBAWABA – A video circulating on X (formerly Twitter) recently sparked outrage among animal rights activists after capturing an Israeli man kicking stray cats in public. Many social media users called for the arrest of the individuals responsible, accusing them of animal abuse. One video showed a man calling the stray cat, gently petting it, then standing up to kick it, in the Susya settlement in the West Bank on January 18.Caution: Disturbing footage below: Video: Israeli man sparks outrage for kicking stray cat: An Israeli settler was filmed kicking a cat for fun on January 18 in the illegal settlement o…
(2026-01-21). Sri Lanka's new "anti-terror laws" foreshadow sweeping attacks on democratic rights. wsws.org Colombo's draft legislation reproduces all the essential features of the existing draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act.
(2026-01-21). UK approves plans for Chinese mega-embassy. tribune.com.pk 
The UK government on Tuesday gave China the green light to build a "mega-embassy" in the heart of London eight years after Beijing bought the site, triggering fresh anger from residents and rights groups. | The 20,000-square-metre (235,000-square-foot) site is set to become the largest embassy complex in the UK by area, and one of the largest in the centre of a Western capital. | But it could still face legal challenges and residents vowed Tuesday to act. | Housing minister Steve Reed's decision to grant planning permission came after several delays over national security concerns. | There have also been prote…
(2026-01-21). Chile's president-elect picks Pinochet lawyers as ministers of human rights, defence. scmp.com Chile's right-wing president-elect Jose Antonio Kast on Tuesday named two ex-lawyers of former dictator Augusto Pinochet to lead the ministries of defence and human rights when he takes office in March. | Kast will be sworn in on March 11 as the first far-right head of state in Chile since the exit of Pinochet, whose brutal regime left deep scars on the South American nation.
(2026-01-21). Why the pro-Israel right is suddenly committed to human rights — for Iranians, not Palestinians. haaretz.com It's a tale of hypocrisy and expediency: The global institution of universal human rights has been reduced to Mideast political point-scoring. But instead of attacking pro-Palestine progressives, the pro-Israel right needs to do some soul-searching of its own…
(2026-01-21). Report Finds Workers Are Less Safe After Trump's First Year in Office. truthout.org One year into President Donald Trump's second term in the White House, workers' rights advocates are sounding the alarm on the erosion of workplace safety laws. A recent report published by Good Jobs First, a national policy resource center that promotes corporate and government accountability, found that under the second Trump Administration, there has been a significant drop in the federal… |
(2026-01-21). A programme coordinator of the programme : "global initiative against impunity for international crimes and serious human rights violations: making justice work" full-time fixed contract (18 months). fidh.org The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) is an NGO that brings together nearly 200 civil society organisations around the world. Founded in 1922, it is committed to defending fundamental freedoms and the universality of the rights defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Independent of any government and recognised for its expertise, FIDH works to strengthen mechanisms for the protection of human rights and defenders through advocacy campaigns, investigations into (…) | – |
(2026-01-21). Hurriyat leader demands global accountability. tribune.com.pk 
As Kashmir marks another sombre anniversary of the Gaw Kadal massacre, senior Hurriyat leader Altaf Ahmed Bhat has renewed demands for international accountability, calling for an independent global investigation into grave human rights violations and war crimes committed by Indian forces in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). | In a statement issued from Islamabad on the eve of the massacre's anniversary, the Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement and senior leader of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference paid solemn tribute to the martyrs of Gaw Kadal, who were killed on January…
(2026-01-21). IHC grants two-day protective bail to Imaan Mazari, husband. tribune.com.pk 
The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday granted two-day protective bail to human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, advocate Hadi Ali Chattha, and barred authorities from arresting the couple during this period. | Justice Azam Khan directed Mazari and Chattha to approach the relevant trial court within two days and ordered them to submit bail bonds of Rs100,000 each. | The couple had spent Tuesday night at the Islamabad High Court Bar president's office after arrest warrants were issued against them in connection with a newly surfaced FIR. | They sought refuge at the office of Islamabad High Court Bar A…
(2026-01-21). Detroit Solidarity With Minneapolis January 23, 2026: Strike and Fight for Immigrant Rights! No Work. No School.NoShopping. wibailoutpeople.org 
(2026-01-21). Wednesday 1/21: Save Our Votes: SCOTUS, the Attack on Voting Rights & Erosion of Our Democracy w/ CC. indybay.org Virtual event – Join from anywhere | Register: www.mobilize.us/commoncause/event/885477……
(2026-01-21). Chinese official condemns 'Taiwan independence' threat to mainland spouses. ecns.cn A spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office on Wednesday condemned actions by "Taiwan independence" forces that infringe upon the legitimate rights and interests of mainland spouses in Taiwan.
(2026-01-21). 'We survive by borrowing': Railways retirees wait years for dues. tribune.com.pk 
For thousands of retired Pakistan Railways employees, the wait for long-overdue payments has stretched into years, pushing many into severe financial hardship and leaving them struggling to meet basic needs. | Retirees say they are unable to pay house rent, afford medical treatment or arrange their children's marriages as gratuity, General Provident Fund (GP Fund) and other entitlements remain unpaid. Employees who retired after March 2023 have been waiting for their dues for nearly three years. | According to information obtained by The Express Tribune, the crisis has widened further, with employees retiring…
(2026-01-21). South Korean Court Jails Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo for Role in Martial Law Crisis. moderndiplomacy.eu South Korea has a painful historical memory of martial law, often associated with authoritarian rule, military dominance, and the suppression of democratic freedoms. Since democratisation in the late 1980s, civilian control and constitutional governance have been central to the country's political identity. That legacy was sharply challenged in December 2024, when then-President Yoon Suk Yeol …
(2026-01-21). Spotify Spotlights Shae Gill as RADAR Pakistan Artist. tribune.com.pk 
Shae Gill has been named Spotify RADAR Pakistan's featured artist for 2026. Known for her distinctive vocals and ability to blend contemporary sounds with traditional influences, the singer has built a growing listener base both in Pakistan and internationally. | As part of the announcement, Spotify is highlighting her recent release, 'Insecurity', a Punjabi track that centres on the theme suggested by its title. The song has crossed 256K streams since its release and continues to draw listener engagement. | In addition, Spotify will document Shae Gill's artistic trajectory through a mini-docuseries, produced…
(2026-01-21). Heavy rains claim 38 lives in Limpopo and Mpumalanga. sanews.gov.za Heavy rains claim 38 lives in Limpopo and Mpumalanga | The death toll from recent heavy rains and flooding in Limpopo and Mpumalanga has risen to 38, with the number of deaths reported in Limpopo increasing from 17 to 18, while six people remain missing in the province. | Giving an update on the recent disasters in Limpopo and Mpumalanga during a media briefing on Wednesday, Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane announced that Mpumalanga has recorded 20 fatalities linked to the severe weather which has caused widespread damage to homes and displaced hundreds of families across the two provinces. | "Once agai…
(2026-01-21). The Zweibràºcken scandal: Right-wing extremism in the armed forces and the return of German militarism. wsws.org The latest right-wing extremism scandal in the German army is not an isolated case, but the expression of a deeply rooted development that has taken on a new quality with the return of German militarism and the preparation for war against Russia.
(2026-01-21). Reactions to developments in northern Syria; Foreign Minister Fidan's remarks on the Türkiye relations; Reactions to the developments in Iran. uwidata.com Last week in Türkiye, developments in Syria topped the political agenda. Operations launched by the Syrian government against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which Ankara designates as a terrorist organization, were met with a positive response in the Turkish capital. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's remarks on the US, emphasizing alliance relations, was another major topic. …
(2026-01-21). Forced evacuations in South Gaza as Israeli military expands control over land. radiohc.cu Israeli forces have ordered dozens of Palestinian families in southern Gaza to evacuate their homes as the regime's military expands the area under its control — in a clear and flagrant violation of the so-called "peace deal" brokered by the wheeler-dealer himself: U.S. President Donald Trump. | Residents of Bani Suhaila, east of Khan Yunis, said Israeli forces dropped leaflets warning families in tent encampments in the al-Reqeb neighborhood to leave immediately. | "Urgent message. The area is under Israeli military control. You must evacuate immediately," read the notice. | Ismail Al-Thawabta, director of…
(2026-01-21). China's Bid to Redefine Global Trade Amid U.S. Retrenchment. uwidata.com By Mehmet Enes Be≈üer When China initially made overtures to rejoin the world trade system in 1986, it was as an economic unknown. Its role in international trade was slight, its industry nascent, and its institutions only beginning the transition from a closed command economy to one tentatively open to the forces of markets. The …
(2026-01-21). Israel's Ben Gvir leads demolition of UNRWA headquarters in Jerusalem. radiohc.cu Israeli forces on Tuesday demolished the headquarters of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in occupied East Jerusalem. | Led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, Israeli forces raided the compound at around 7 am local time and raised Israeli flags over the main building. "[This is] a historic day for sovereignty in Jerusalem," the minister said. | "Today, these terror supporters are being kicked out along with everything they built. This is what will be done to every terror supporter," he said. | Ben Gvir was accompanied by far-right deputy mayor of Jerusalem, Aryeh King. "God w…
(2026-01-21). Erdogan, Trump discuss Syria ceasefire and Gaza in phone call. tribune.com.pk 
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan discussed developments in Syria and Gaza in a call with US President Donald Trump, his office said on Wednesday, as Syria's Turkey-backed government announced a ceasefire with US-allied Kurdish forces after days of clashes. | Syria's government this week seized swathes of territory in the northeast and gave the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces four days to agree on integrating into the central state. | The SDF's main ally, the United States, said in a statement that the partnership with the group had changed in nature after Syria's new government emerged and urged the group…
(2026-01-21). US forces seize a seventh Venezuela-linked oil tanker. aljazeera.com US has moved to assert strict control over production and sale of Venezuelan oil since attacking the country this month.
(2026-01-21). Israel begins demolitions at UNRWA HQ. tribune.com.pk 
Israeli bulldozers began demolitions at the headquarters of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees in east Jerusalem on Tuesday, in what the organisation called an "unprecedented attack". | UNRWA spokesman Jonathan Fowler said in a statement to AFP that Israeli forces "stormed into" the compound shortly after 7: 00 am and ejected security guards before bulldozers arrived and began demolishing buildings. | "This is an unprecedented attack against UNRWA and its premises. And it also constitutes a serious violation of international law and the privileges and immunities of the United Nations," Fowler said. | "What…
(2026-01-21). BBVA Sees Venezuela as a 'Great Opportunity' Amid Political Transition. moderndiplomacy.eu BBVA, the Spanish banking group, believes Venezuela could present significant business opportunities if political stability returns to the country, its chairman said in an interview. The comments come as Venezuela undergoes an extraordinary political transition after U.S. forces captured President Nicolás Maduro in early January 2026 and installed an interim government an event that has …
(2026-01-21). From the Battle of Okinawa to the New Cold War. peoplesdispatch.org We descended into Chibichibi Cave in southern Okinawa with the heavy feeling that this was not a site of distant history, but a warning. The cave is low enough that you have to bend forward as you walk. The air is damp, the light disappears quickly, and the air becomes suffocatingly warm. In April 1945, as US forces landed on the island, 140 Okinawan civilians (mostly elders, women, and children) hid here. Eighty-five of them would die by their own hands. Parents killed their children first, then themselves. | This was not an act of collective madness, nor a cultural predisposition to suicide. What happened here…
(2026-01-21). China calls for international efforts to prevent Japan from reverting to path of militarism. ecns.cn Sun Lei, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, speaks during a UN Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, U.S., January 15, 2026."The Tribunal systematically adjudicated and exposed the crimes of Japanese militarism in planning, preparing for, and invading China and other Asian nations, as well as in launching the Pacific War," Sun said.
(2026-01-21). Portugal cracks down on far-right. tribune.com.pk 
Portuguese police said on Tuesday they had detained dozens of suspected members of a group that spread neo-Nazi propaganda and committed hate crimes against immigrants. | The 37 suspects had "extensive criminal records and links to international groups that promote hate", the judicial police said in a statement, adding that 15 people had been formally charged. | The victims were mostly immigrants from Muslim-majority countries in South Asia, according to local media. | The arrival of workers from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, has boosted Portugal's foreign-born population in recent years to around 15 per cen…
(2026-01-21). Pierre Vesperini: Government of the Past. newleftreview.org If the past is always that of a certain present, what are the conditions for avoiding the subordination of public history to self-interested origin stories, or the consignment of past infamies to oblivion? Who belongs in public memory, and who not? Reflections on the political use and abuse of popular historiography.
(2026-01-21). "The Scent of Fraud:" The Door Opens for a New Corporate Assault on Honduras. counterpunch.org 
While the Trump administration is bombing boats and murdering civilians in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean — and has now illegally invaded Venezuela and kidnapped its president and first lady over unsubstantiated allegations of narcoterrorism — its interference in the recent Honduran elections is inciting a return to narcopolitics. In the few days prior to
(2026-01-21). Raúl recibió al Ministro del Interior de la Federación de Rusia. radiohc.cu 
El General de Ejército Raúl Castro Ruz recibió este martes al Ministro del Interior de la Federación de Rusia, General de la Policía Vladimir Alexandrovich Kolokoltsev. Foto tomada de @PresidenciaCuba | En el encuentro intercambiaron sobre las excelentes relaciones bilaterales entre la Federación de Rusia y la República de Cuba y la permanente voluntad de fortalecerlas. En este contexto, el General de Ejército trasladó afectuosos saludos al Presidente Vladimir Putin. Foto tomada de @PresidenciaCuba | Participaron además del distinguido visitante, Víctor Koronelli, embajador de Rusia en Cuba, y otros miembros de l…
(2026-01-21). Jamaat-e-Islami gains ground in Bangladesh ahead of February polls. tribune.com.pk 
Long vilified for opposing independence and barred from electoral politics for over a decade, Bangladesh's biggest religio-political party is reinventing itself and attracting new support ahead of parliamentary polls next month, unsettling moderates and minority communities. | Jamaat-e-Islami began its overhaul soon after a youth-led uprising in the Muslim-majority nation of 175 million people toppled Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. With Hasina's Awami League banned, Jamaat is betting on its anti-corruption image, welfare outreach, and what analysts describe as a more inclusive public stance to de…
(2026-01-21). Meta's AI expands real-time lip-synced translation for Reels. tribune.com.pk 
Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, has expanded its AI capabilities in a move designed to make short-form video content accessible across language barriers. | They have rolled out enhanced AI-powered translations and lip-syncing for Reels, its short video format, supporting a wider range of languages, including Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi and Kannada alongside previously available English, Hindi, Portuguese and Spanish. | According to the blog post, the update uses neural machine translation models as well as on-device and cloud-based AI models to generate dubbed audio and real-time captions,…
(2026-01-21). IMF upgrades China's growth forecast to 4.5%. ecns.cn The International Monetary Fund has raised its 2026 growth projection for China to 4.5 percent, up by 0.3 percentage point from its October forecast, primarily due to a combination of eased trade tensions and sustained domestic policy support, according to the organization's World Economic Outlook update released on Monday.
(2026-01-21). Sonmez soaks up the support. tribune.com.pk 
Anyone strolling past Melbourne Park's outer courts might have felt like they were wandering through Istanbul on Wednesday as the roars behind Turkish trailblazer Zeynep Sonmez reached deafening levels at the Australian Open. | A popular draw among Turkish fans and now a crowd favourite in Melbourne after assisting an ill ball girl during her opener, Sonmez fed off the energy on court seven to beat Hungarian Anna Bondar 6-2 6-4 and progress. | "I felt like I was at home," Sonmez told reporters after matching her best Grand Slam run of reaching the third round at Wimbledon last year. | "I was feeling the energy…
(2026-01-21). KZN Treasury commits to support eMadlangeni bid for municipal reclassification. sanews.gov.za KZN Treasury commits to support eMadlangeni bid for municipal reclassification | KwaZulu-Natal Finance MEC Francois Rodgers has committed to working with the eMadlangeni Local Municipality (ELM) to review its proposal for reclassification from an urban municipality to a rural one. | The move is aimed at strengthening its case for increased equitable share funding from National Treasury. | Rodgers made the commitment during a meeting with an ELM delegation led by Mayor Mzwakhe Buthelezi at the KwaZulu-Natal Treasury offices in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday, 20 January 2025. | The MEC was accompanied by senior offici…
(2026-01-21). Meet Trump's man in Greenland. responsiblestatecraft.org In March of last year, when public outrage prevented Second Lady Usha Vance from attending a dogsled race in Greenland, Thomas Dans took it personally. "As a sponsor and supporter of this event I encouraged and invited the Second Lady and other senior Administration officials to attend this monumental race," Dans
(2026-01-21). Government intensifies work to review scholar transport. sanews.gov.za Government intensifies work to review scholar transport | Government is working on reviewing legislation governing scholar transport with a view to make the sector safer and more secure for learners. | This according to Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi who held a media briefing on Tuesday afternoon in the wake of a horrific accident which claimed the lives of 12 children on Monday. | The taxi transporting the children were in crashed into an oncoming truck while they were on their way to school. | "An incident of this magnitude calls for a review of some of our legislation, regulations and the support system in thi…
(2026-01-21). New Zealand PM promises deeper austerity and military build-up. wsws.org After promising greater military spending, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon expressed support for US imperialism's criminal attack on Venezuela.
(2026-01-21). (Statement) International call to strengthen antifascist and anti-imperialist action. links.org.au 
Over 230 prominent individuals from across all continents have signed an international appeal calling for intensified anti-fascist and anti-imperialist action and supporting the International Antifascist and Anti-imperialist Conference to be held in Porto Alegre, Brazil.
(2026-01-21). Pakistan accepts Trump's invitation to join 'Board of Peace': FO. tribune.com.pk 
Pakistan has accepted United States President Donald Trump's invitation to join his Board of Peace, a new international mechanism aimed at supporting the implementation of the Gaza Peace Plan, the Foreign Office (FO) announced on Wednesday. | Other countries that have accepted the invitation to join the board include Indonesia, Israel, Türkiye, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. The proposed board would be chaired for life by Trump and would initially focus on the Gaza conflict before expanding its remit to other wars. Member countries would be required to pay a $1 billion fe…
(2026-01-21). ICE in Minnesota — Days 47-50: DOJ Probes State Leaders, ICE Continues Illegal Detainments, Unions Call for General Strike. unicornriot.ninja 
(2026-01-21). Protesting the Unprecedented Lethal State Violence against Protests by the Islamic Republic of Iran. juancole.com — | Letter to government of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding its violent response to the protests in the country: | Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran
| Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran | Your Excel…
(2026-01-21). Shinzo Abe assassination: Japan court sentences man to life imprisonment for killing ex-Prime Minister. ptcnews.tv PTC News Desk: A Japanese court on Wednesday sentenced the man to life imprisonment for shooting dead former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in a rare act of gun violence. The court verdict has put an end t | Shinzo Abe assassination: Japan court sentences man to life imprisonment for killing ex-Prime Minister…