The Hong Kong trial of prominent pro-democracy activist and media mogul Jimmy Lai has garnered widespread attention globally. Lai, a 76-year-old British citizen and high-profile critic of Beijing, faces national security charges, and his trial is expected to take months. Lai is a prominent figure in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement. His detention and subsequent trial [...]
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Ukraine and Russia announce first prisoner exchange since August
Ukraine and Russia announced their first prisoner-of-war exchange since August 2023 on Wednesday. The exchange involved a total of nearly 500 prisoners captured by both Ukraine and Russia. Following the exchange, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted its mediation efforts in the exchange. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that 230 Ukrainians returned to [...]
Pope Francis addresses Nicaragua crackdown on Catholic Church
Pope Francis on Monday showed concern when discussing the crackdown of the Catholic Church in Nicaragua. Official news outlet Vatican News quoted that as of Monday, Nicaraguan authorities have arrested at least 14 priests, one bishop and two seminarians over the past week. The Vatican News also reported the 26-year sentence of Bishop Rolando José Álvarez [...]
45 journalists killed in 2023, marking lowest toll since 2002: RSF report
In its annual report, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) revealed that 45 journalists were killed in line with their work in 2023, marking the lowest total since 2002. The report also revealed that 54 journalists were held hostage, 84 remain missing and 521 are currently detained. The report identified varying trends contributing to these numbers, such [...]
Donald Trump and Capital Punishment: Sounding the Death Knell for American Democracy
During every execution in the United States, Death Penalty Action* holds a virtual vigil simultaneously with local death penalty abolitionists protesting outside the prisons and state capitals or governor’s mansions where the state-sponsored killing is taking place. When these gatherings are in person, those in attendance toll the same massive bell at the time the [...]
Echoes of Dostoevsky: An Appeal Against Alabama's Deadly Experiment
As we prepare to usher in 2024, the outlook on Alabama’s administration of the death penalty holds many terrible knowns, and an even greater number of grim unknowns. At the top of any capital punishment-watcher’s list: Is Alabama really going to move forward with the first state-sanctioned nitrogen gassing execution in US history? If all goes according [...]
Iran seeks return of former official convicted for human rights abuses in Sweden
Spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry Nasser Kanaani stated in a news conference Monday that Iran will continue to seek the release of former Iranian official Hamid Nouri, whose conviction and sentence of life in prison for human rights abuses in Sweden was upheld last week in the Svea Court of Appeal. Kanaani stated that the [...]
Explainer: The Expulsion of Representative George Santos Under US Law
Representative George Santos is the third member of the House of Representatives since the Civil War to be expelled and the first in United States history to be removed before being convicted by the Judiciary. It is significant to recognize that how it internally operates and disciplines its members, including expulsion, is beyond the general [...]
Ireland to bring legal challenge against UK government over Troubles Legacy Act
The Irish Government announced Tuesday that they intend to legally challenge the UK’s Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 on human rights grounds under the European Convention on Human Rights. The Northern Ireland Legacy Act was introduced during Boris Johnson’s time as prime minister. Receiving royal assent and becoming law in September 2023, [...]
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announced Monday that it shut down its office in the Nicaragua capital city of Managua at the request of Nicaraguan authorities. The closure, ICRC declared, marks the end of its humanitarian mission in the country, which began in 2018 after a mass anti-government uprising. In the following [...]