(2026-01-20). 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 (…) | – |
(2026-01-20). Sudan paramilitary forces say 'regret' deadly Chad border clash. newarab.com 
Sudan's paramilitary In a statement on its official Telegram channel, the RSF said the clashes "resulted from an unintentional mistake during field operations" targeting forces from the Sudanese army who had entered from C…
(2026-01-20). Chad: Sudanese families separated by conflict find hope one phone call at a time. icrc.org
(2026-01-20). ICRC voices: Dispatch from Darfur. icrc.org
(2026-01-20). Kayaks Join in Protesting Chevron War Profiteering. indybay.org "Kayaktivists" confront Chevron for profiteering from War, Genocide, and environmental destruction from waters next to Richmond refinery.
(2026-01-20). 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.
(2026-01-20). Israel prevents French nurse from re-entering Gaza, after she spoke up about their genocide. thecanary.co 
When Iman Ma'arfi set foot in the Gaza Strip for the first time, she carried nothing but a first aid kit and heavy questions about the meaning of Israel's blockade and genocide. She had an idea of what it would be like in theory, but she soon discovered that what war does is not limited […] | By
(2026-01-20). Rights Advocates Petition Court Over UCC's Internet Shutdown. plusnews.ug 
Human rights advocates have filed a petition in court challenging the move by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) to shut down the internet ahead of the 15th January 2026 presidential and parliamentary elections. The petitioners, Michael Aboneka and Raymond Amumpaire, argue that the shutdown, which was in place between 13th and 17th January 2026, violates …
(2026-01-20). 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 (…) | – |
(2026-01-20). Uganda: Suspension of at least seven human rights NGOs ahead of general elections. fidh.org
(2026-01-20). 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……
(2026-01-20). Iran: Over 30 NGOs raise alarm over dire situation for detained human rights defenders amid rising protest death toll. fidh.org
(2026-01-20). IHC restores bail, reinstates right of defence of Imaan Mazari, husband. tribune.com.pk 
The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday restored the bail of rights activist and lawyer Imaan Mazari and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, and reinstated their right of defence before the District and Sessions Court. | IHC's Justice Muhammad Azam Khan issued the orders, suspending the trial court's previous rulings. Both Mazari and Chattha appeared before the high court during the hearing. | The judge directed that cross-examination in the trial court be completed within three days. Defence counsel Kamran Murtaza sought additional time, to which Justice Azam Khan said he would consider the request and advised the law…
(2026-01-20). A high-level legal expert for the Business, Human Rights and Environment Desk to follow the United Nations negotiations of a Legally Binding Instrument to regulate transnational corporations and other business enterprises. 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 (…) | – |
(2026-01-20). Myanmar: Arbitrary detention and torture of student leader Htet Myat Aung. fidh.org
(2026-01-20). United States withdrawal from international organisations endangers women's rights. fidh.org
(2026-01-20). Uganda: Arbitrary detention of Dr. Sarah Bireete ahead of general elections. fidh.org
(2026-01-20). One Million More at Risk — Why Yemen Faces Its Darkest Hunger Crisis in Years. thinktank.pk As the calendar flips to 2026, Yemen — already battered by over a decade of relentless war — stands on the brink of a humanitarian abyss. According to fresh warnings from the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and UN-backed assessments, the nation is plunging into its most severe food insecurity phase since the dark days of …
(2026-01-20). Unpacking Why Europe Is on the Back Foot in the Greenland Crisis. thinktank.pk In an increasingly volatile global landscape, Europe finds itself in a precarious position, often described as being "on the back foot." This phrase captures the defensive stance the continent has adopted amid escalating tensions with the United States over territorial ambitions, trade disputes, and security concerns. At the heart of the current turmoil is the …
(2026-01-20). Australia's wildlife crisis exposes a catastrophic failure of government. independentaustralia.net 
(2026-01-20). Economists blast Rachel Reeves for ushering in a repeat of the 2008 financial crisis. thecanary.co 
Economists David Aikman (director of the National Institute for Economic and Social Research) and John Vickers (University of Oxford) have blasted chancellor Rachel Reeves for her deregulation of the big banks. Rachel Reeves slammed Aikman and Vickers note that the Bank of England (BoE) should be increasing protections, not loosening them: Since the last major […] | By
(2026-01-20). German politician proposes nuclear weapons amid US-EU crisis. infobrics.org Tensions between EU and the US are fomenting new defense discussions in Europe.
(2026-01-20). R20 million emergency relief allocated to tackle Knysna water crisis. sanews.gov.za R20 million emergency relief allocated to tackle Knysna water crisis | Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina has announced an emergency relief allocation of R20 million to the Knysna Municipality, as part of urgent interventions to address the town's deepening water crisis. | Majodina announced the allocation following a two-day working visit to the Garden Route District Municipality in the Western Cape, to assess the status of water challenges. | Majodina said the funding, drawn from reprioritised water services infrastructure grants, will be used alongside technical support from the Department of Water a…
(2026-01-20). 'Content to die': Afghanistan's hunger crisis worsened by winter, aid cuts. geo.tv 
An Afghan woman lights a fire to cook food at a makeshift kitchen in Markhor-e-Sufla village, Herat, Afghanistan, October 26, 2024. — ReutersWFP estimates 17 million Afghans face acute hunger.Winter shuts work opportunities as need rises sharply.WFP says 3 million more face acute…
(2026-01-20). Field Marshal Munir visits police academy, highlights modern policing. tribune.com.pk 
Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir on Tuesday visited the National Police Academy in Islamabad, where he engaged with officers from the Police Service of Pakistan. | Upon his arrival, Field Marshal Munir was greeted by the Commandant of the National Police Academy, and a guard of honour was presented by a police contingent. He laid a wreath at the Police Martyrs' Monument and offered Fateha, paying respects to police officers who had lost their lives in the line of duty while working to maintain peace, uphold the rule of law, and ensure public safety. | He acknowledged the sacrifices made by…
(2026-01-20). Specialists Neutralize Russian 'Petal' Mines Scattered On Hospital Grounds In Kherson. menafn.com (MENAFN – UkrinForm) According to Ukrinform, the Kherson Regional Police stated this on Telegram. | "Russian forces remotely mined the territory of a medical facility in central Kherson: PFM-1S …
(2026-01-20). Democratic Republic of the Congo: Violence in South Kivu forces thousands of families to flee. icrc.org
(2026-01-20). US immigration thugs accelerate ethnic cleansing campaign, as sentiment for Minneapolis general strike grows among workers. wsws.org As support grows for mass collective action to drive ICE out of Minnesota and the fascists out of the White House, Minnesota trade union bureaucrats made clear at a press conference Monday that they would not lead any strike action.
(2026-01-20). 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.
(2026-01-20). Australia's parliament backs sweeping gun, anti-hate reforms after Bondi attack. tribune.com.pk 
Australia's lower house of parliament has passed new laws for a national gun buyback, tighter background checks for gun licences and a crackdown on hate crimes, in response to the country's worst mass shooting in decades at a Jewish festival last month. | Two bills for stricter gun control and anti-hate measures passed on Tuesday by the House of Representatives in a special parliament session will now go to the upper house Senate, for debate. | The gun control laws are expected to pass with the support of the Greens party despite opposition from the conservative Liberal-National coalition. The anti-hate laws a…
(2026-01-20). Senior Workshop on International Rules Governing Military Operations (SWIRMO) in Riyadh: Humanitarian Law as part of the Military Doctrine. icrc.org
(2026-01-20). Afghanistan: A visual journey through Afghanistan's humanitarian challenges and ICRC's humanitarian response. icrc.org
(2026-01-20). Central African Republic: Humanitarian situation remains alarming in south-east of the country. icrc.org
(2026-01-20). Egypt: Cairo hosts the 13th Regional Meeting for Arab National Committees on International Humanitarian Law. icrc.org
(2026-01-20). The Insurrection Act is One of at Least 26 Legal Loopholes in the Law Banning the Use of the US Military Domestically. counterpunch.org 
As protesters and federal law enforcement clashed in Minneapolis in the wake of a second shooting of a civilian on Jan. 14, 2026 by federal agents, President Donald Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to send troops to Minnesota in response to protests. This is not the first time Trump has invoked the act.
(2026-01-20). China's secret plan to keep US out of Taiwan war: Xi to use civilian fishing boats, not warships. hindustantimes.com In a display of maritime precision, thousands of Chinese fishing boats were mobilized in the East China Sea to form an enormous 460 km floating barrier. The coordinated formations, revealed through vessel-tracking data and analyzed by The New York Times, suggest training or rehearsal for a potential naval blockade scenario near Taiwan and key shipping lanes. Analysts warn this unusual "civilian" fleet activity could be part of China's broader grey-zone strategy, using fishing vessels as a maritime militia to obstruct sea lanes, strain surveillance, and test responses from regional powers.
(2026-01-20). In Minnesota, Trump Is Borrowing from the Dictators' Handbook. fpif.org Two weeks ago, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot dead a U.S. citizen and mother of three in Minneapolis, Minnesota, setting off mass protests and a storm of questions across the country. The executive branch has offered a set of answers about who Renee Good was, what she believed, and the nature of the agent's mental state in order to justify the killing of a civilian in the street of a peaceful city. | These answers suggest that Donald Trump is following four authoritarian rules that he seems to have lifted from the playbooks of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alex…
(2026-01-20). On Deciding Not to Pull the Trigger. counterpunch.org 
If soldiers in a war zone can avoid killing innocent civilians in a split second, why couldn't a federal agent do the same thing in an American city? I didn't imagine when I joined the Army and volunteered for the infantry that one of my duties would involve anything resembling census work. But in 2004,
(2026-01-20). Acting President Rodríguez Oversees Venezuela's Steel Complex Recovery and Rebuilding After US Attack. orinocotribune.com On Monday, January 19, Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodríguez led a working meeting with the mining and basic industry sector to advance the recovery of the national steel complex, the reactivation of industrial plants, and the improvement of workers' quality of life. | "We are making an effort to restore economic stability," Rodríguez stated, emphasizing that "the goal is to generate foreign currency." | In that context, she announced the reactivation of the Barquisimeto steel plant and pointed out that "what used to be wealth for the oligarchy, now belongs to the people." | The acting president of Vene…
(2026-01-20). Last remaining hunger striker will go on thirst strike if government continues to refuse a meeting. thecanary.co 
Umer Khalid is the last remaining hunger striker to participate in the Prisoners for Palestine hunger strike campaign. The 22-year-old who suffers from a rare genetic disorder, Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy, is currently on remand at HMP Wormwood Scrubs. The last hunger striker Khalid is now on day ten of his hunger strike. He resumed, after […] | By
(2026-01-20). Mr. Trump: Greenland is not for sale. onlineopinion.com.au Trump threatens to seize Greenland from a NATO ally, shattering trust, exposing naked resource hunger, and risking the alliance that underpins Western security.
(2026-01-20). Workers Struggles: The Americas. wsws.org Over 2,000 healthcare workers in Minneapolis-St. Paul are set to strike, while in Argentina, protests were held in support of Lutramax workers who are opposing firings.
(2026-01-19). Opp leader strikes conciliatory note in maiden NA speech. tribune.com.pk 
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly (NA) Mahmood Khan Achakzai offered unconditional support to the government for initiatives aimed at strengthening democracy, parliament and the Constitution in his maiden speech in the role on Monday while also calling for visits to PTI founder Imran Khan to be allowed. | The Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief was formally appointed as the NA opposition leader last week, filling a post that had remained vacant since August 7. NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq summoned PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and the Chief Whip of the Opposition, Aamir Dogar, to his chamber t…
(2026-01-20). Yemen: The ICRC stands ready to support detainee releases between conflict parties following agreement. icrc.org
(2026-01-20). Cambodia-Thailand: ICRC supports release and repatriation of 18 prisoners of war. icrc.org
(2026-01-20). Gauteng government provides psychosocial support after learner transport tragedy. sanews.gov.za Gauteng government provides psychosocial support after learner transport tragedy | Gauteng Education spokesperson Steve Mabona says they are providing psychosocial support to the schools and parents who lost loved ones in the accident that claimed the lives of 12 learners in the Vaal area on Monday morning. | Speaking to the media this morning, Mabona said psycho-social support teams have already been dispatched to schools impacted by the tragedy. | "So, we have started with the process of psycho support, the school has been taken through the process. Actually, we have sent the psycho support to all the schools…
(2026-01-20). Court Sets Date to Hear NUP Supporters' Case in Mbarara. plusnews.ug 
The Chief Magistrate's Court in Mbarara City has set a date to begin the hearing of the case against the 36 National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters who were arrested over two months ago. These were arrested during Robert Kyagulanyi's campaign in Mbarara district on the 7th of November 2025 and were subsquetly charged with obstructing a police …
(2026-01-20). Trump is keeping coal on life support. How long can it last? grist.org 
Heading into President Donald Trump's second term, coal looked like an industry nearing the end of its life. Utilities planned to retire more than half of the nation's coal-fired power plants by 2028, no new facilities were coming online, and production had been flat for years. | Trump's first year back in office has given the industry an opportunity to retrench. The president is an avowed supporter of coal, and his Department of Energy has repeatedly intervened to prevent plants from shutting down. At the same time, a Trump-supported boom in the construction of artificial intelligence data centers has led to…
(2026-01-20). Friday 1/23: ICE Out of MN-Support MN Gen Strike! Shut ICE Down NOW! Join SF Support Rally. indybay.org California State Building | 350 McAllister St. | San Francisco…
(2026-01-20). Kasibante Petitions Supreme Court, Challenges Museveni's Victory. plusnews.ug 
Former presidential candidate Robert Kasibante has petitioned the Supreme Court, challenging President Yoweri Museveni's victory in the 2026 general election, alleging widespread irregularities, violence, voter bribery, and failure by the Electoral Commission to conduct a free and fair poll. Museveni garnered nearly eight million votes, defeating opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, who garnered just under three million …
(2026-01-20). Killer vigilantes sentenced to life imprisonment. sanews.gov.za Killer vigilantes sentenced to life imprisonment | The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has welcomed the sentences imposed by the Bhisho High Court in a matter relating to the vigilante killing of four people at Debenek in the Eastern Cape. | At least 16 people were each convicted and sentenced in the court for: | Four counts of murder: life imprisonment. | Four counts of kidnapping: eight years' imprisonment. | Public violence: three years' imprisonment. | According to the NPA, the offences occurred in December 2022 when members of the community held a meeting and "resolved that individuals suspected of cabl…
(2026-01-20). Nonviolent Discipline Is Helping Turn The Tide On ICE. progressivehub.net DAVID CORTRIGHT | WAGING NONVIOLENCE…
(2026-01-20). How to turn Extreme Weather Tragedies into Climate Victories. juancole.com (
(2026-01-20). Collective action needed to curb school violence, says Minister Gwarube. sanews.gov.za Collective action needed to curb school violence, says Minister Gwarube | Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has called on parents, communities and government to work together to curb violence in schools, stressing that learner safety is fundamental to quality education. | "Both parents and the community need to work together in curbing violence. This can only be achieved as a collective," the Minister said during a back-to-school engagement at Eldorado Park Secondary School on Monday. | The engagement placed learner safety, anti-bullying efforts and the prevention of gender-based violence (GBV) at the centr…
(2026-01-20). Justice Department confirms fatal shooting at Booysens Court. sanews.gov.za Justice Department confirms fatal shooting at Booysens Court | The Justice and Constitutional Development department has confirmed a fatal shooting incident at the Booysens Magistrates' Court in Gauteng on Tuesday. | The incident is the latest in a growing trend of violence at judicial facilities, with similar incidents occurring at the Athlone, Mitchells Plain and Wynberg Magistrates Courts in the Western Cape and another incident at Melmoth Court in KwaZulu-Natal — all in the span of last year. | "The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development has learnt with serious concern of [the] shooting inci…