(2021-04-08). Court Upholds $10 Million Judgment Against Bolivian Leaders for 2003 Massacre. orinocotribune.com April 6, 2021, Miami — Yesterday, a federal judge rejected an attempt by Bolivia's former president, Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada, and former defense minister, José Carlos Sánchez Berzaín, to vacate a $10 million damages award against them for the massacre of unarmed Indigenous people in 2003. A jury found the former officials liable under the Torture Victim Protection Act (TVPA) in April 2018, after a month-long trial that included six days of jury deliberations. The trial marked the first time in U.S. history that a former head of state sat before his accusers in a U.S. human rights trial. In an unusual move…
(2021-04-08). Taiwan threatens to shoot down Chinese drones amid mounting US-China conflict. wsws.org Encouraged by the US, Taiwanese officials are escalating their war rhetoric as provocative US military exercises in the region threaten to precipitate a clash with Chinese forces.
(2021-04-08). Standing With Daniel Hale, Standing With Whistleblowers. popularresistance.org Join us for a special broadcast featuring DRAD Policy Director Chip Gibbons, Jesselyn Radack head of Whistleblower and Source Protection Program (WHISPeR) at ExposeFacts, and whistleblowers who have faced Espionage Act charges. | Last week, Daniel Hale, a drone whistleblower, pled guilty to one count of violating the Espionage Act. Hale admitted in court that he gave to an investigative reporter documents detailing human rights abuses pertaining to the US's troubling assassination program. Although this information was in the public interest, the government nonetheless indicted Hale under the Espionage Act. | Thi…
(2021-04-08). Cat & Mouse Game Continues As Houthis Launch More Drones At Saudi Arabia. southfront.org 
Illustrative image, source: the Houthis media wing | The Houthis (Ansar Allah) continue to launch suicide drones from Yemen at high-value targets in different parts of Saudi Arabia. | Early on April 8, the group announced that it had launched a Qasef-2K suicide drone at Saudi King Khalid Air Base in the southern province of 'Asir. The drone is a copy of the Iranian Ababil-2. | In an official statement, Brig. Gen. Yahya Sari, a spokesman for the Houthis, claimed that the attack was successful. He said that the drone ha…
(2021-04-07). April 11: Global Day Of Action For Julian Assange. popularresistance.org Assange supporters Candles4Assange have put together an incredibly helpful list of actions planned for Julian Assange on April 11th around the world, to mark 2 years of his unjust imprisonment. The full Twitter thread is here but we've also listed each event by city below.
(2021-04-07). Veteran Intelligence Professionals For Sanity On Avoiding War In Ukraine. popularresistance.org We last communicated with you on December 20, 2020, when you were President-elect. | At that time, we alerted you to the dangers inherent in formulating a policy toward Russia built on a foundation of Russia-bashing. While we continue to support the analysis contained in that memorandum, this new memo serves a far more pressing purpose. We wish to draw your attention to the dangerous situation that exists in Ukraine today, where there is growing risk of war unless you take steps to forestall such a conflict. | At this juncture, we call to mind two basic realities that need particular emphasis amid growing tension…
(2021-04-07). Two Drones Shot Down Over Syrian Posts In Southern Idlib. Are Militants Preparing New Attack? (Photos). southfront.org 
Fighters of the al-Qaeda-led Wa Harid al-Muminin operations room, Illustrative image. | The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has shot down two drones which were spying on its posts in the southern countryside of Idlib. | The drones were shot down by SAA personnel on April 6 and 7. Both were spying on army posts in the town of Ma`arat al-Nu`man. The town, which was liberated on January 28 of 2020, is located on the Damascus-Aleppo highway, known as the M5. | The downed drones were both commercially-available DJI Mavic 2 Zoom. Th…
(2021-04-07). UAE official not suited to be Interpol chief, says former UK prosecutor. middleeasteye.net 
UAE official not suited to be Interpol chief, says former UK prosecutor | Major General Ahmed Naser al-Raisi has been linked to human rights abuses, including the torture of two British citizens | Wed, 04/07/2021 – 16: 27 | A coalition of human rights groups warned last year that Raisi's appointment would 'damage' Interpol's reputation (AFP) | The United Arab Emirate's security chief is ill-suited to run Inter…
