2020-12-29: News Headlines

Ralph Nader (2020-12-29). Recidivist Criminal and Constitutional Outlaw Trump Rushes to Pardon Criminal Lawbreakers. counterpunch.org Serial lawbreaker Donald J. Trump is embarking on the most sordid presidential pardon spree in American history. He has already pardoned convicted crooks, thieves, and violent outlaws. Trump's pardon lawyers are frantically assembling more MAGA besotted individuals and groups to be pardoned wholesale. The number may climb into the hundreds. The queue is long. Trump

Peoples Dispatch (2020-12-29). Loujain al-Hathloul convicted and sentenced to nearly 6 years in prison; may be released in March. peoplesdispatch.org A Saudi court dealing with terrorism cases sentenced Loujain al-Hathloul to five years and 8 months in prison. The court suspended a part of the term and also backdated the term due to which she may be released in March…

Online News Editor (2020-12-29). NGOs denounce holding Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia despite repression. laprensalatina.com Beirut, Dec 29 (efe-epa).- The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and other associated NGOs on Tuesday criticized the decision to hold the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia for a second consecutive year, despite ongoing repression, including the recent jailing of a woman's rights activist. "A year later, the repression orchestrated by the Saudi authorities …

Jessica Corbett, staff writer (2020-12-28). Conviction of Loujain al-Hathloul in Saudi Arabia Condemned as 'Blatant Attack on the Most Basic Human Rights'. commondreams.org "We stand with the al-Hathloul family and their friends who have not given up, and continue to call on the Saudi government to free Loujain," said Ariel Gold of CodePink. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/loujain.jpg

Alan MacLeod (2020-12-28). 'Freedom is blossoming': After dismembering a journalist, Saudi Arabia goes on a PR spree. mronline.org "Freedom is blossoming." That is how, without a shred of irony, CNN International Diplomatic Editor Nic Robertson describes Saudi Arabia in his recent article.

Rayhan Uddin (2020-12-28). Saudi rights activist launches hunger strike over conditions at al-Hair prison. middleeasteye.net Saudi rights activist launches hunger strike over conditions at al-Hair prison | Former economics professor Mohammed Fahad al-Qahtani becomes latest political detainee to challenge conditions at notorious Saudi facility | Mon, 12/28/2020 – 13: 28 | Mohammed Fahad al-Qahtani, a Saudi professor and human rights activist, has been detained since 2012 (Screengrab/Twitter) | Jailed Saudi human rights activ…

MEE staff (2020-12-28). Biden adviser slams Saudi sentencing of rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul. middleeasteye.net Biden adviser slams Saudi sentencing of rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul | Jake Sullivan calls nearly six-year sentence handed down to women's rights activist 'unjust and troubling' | Mon, 12/28/2020 – 20: 04 | "> | US President-elect Joe Biden's national security adviser has condemned Saudi Arabia over its sentencing of women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul on terrorism c…

MEE correspondent (2020-12-27). Yemen: Anger as newly sworn-in cabinet excludes women for first time in 20 years. middleeasteye.net Yemen: Anger as newly sworn-in cabinet excludes women for first time in 20 years | Women activists take to the streets declaring the composition of the Saudi-backed government as illegitimate | Sun, 12/27/2020 – 11: 13 | Dozens of female activists protested in Taiz city demanding women be given positions in the cabinet (MEE) | The swearing in of a new government in Yemen on Saturday has…

Mehr News Agency (2020-12-27). Any stupid move makes Tel Aviv interests legal targets: Yemen. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Dec. 27 (MNA) — An official at the Yemeni Foreign Ministry warned that any stupid move by the Zionist regime would lead to a full-scale war targeting the interests of the regime and its partners in the Red Sea.

Mustafa Abu Sneineh (2020-12-25). Al-Akhbar under cyberattack for reporting Saudi and Emirati bankrolling Israel deals. middleeasteye.net Al-Akhbar under cyberattack for reporting Saudi and Emirati bankrolling Israel deals | The Lebanese newspaper published a report on Riyadh and Abu Dhabi's plans to finance the new Arab normalisation agreements with Israel
| Fri, 12/25/2020 – 11: 56 | The reception space of the Lebanese Al-Akhbar newspaper office in Beirut (Screengrab\Haitham al-Mousawi) | The website of the Le…