By Jesse Russell

The United States can’t be trusted as a leader in human rights anymore. That’s according to the World Report issued by Human Rights Watch on Wednesday. The organization says that the European Union needs to step up and fill the void left by the US when it began holding individuals without trial and torturing prisoners.

By Jesse Russell

The South Korean government is seeking to shut down a labor organization that claims to represent government workers. With the union refusing to back down, police forces have been deployed to shut down union offices - often resulting in violence. Jesse Russell has more:

Throughout the month of September riot police have been shutting down offices of the Korean Government Employees Union. 81 offices have been forcefully closed and some members have been hospitalized, but union leaders say the KGEU is still "intact and strong." Early Monday six members of the KGEU occupied the offices of the National Human Rights Commission demanding intervention against what they call the violent repression of the government. The KGEU claims to represent 140,000 government employees and seeks to prevent the privatization of public services and save the countries decaying pension system. The Korean government has refused to recognize the organization.

By Jesse Russell

The United States has seen an outpouring of support from around the world in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. More than 90 countries have pledged some kind of aid. Even countries who have governments that are seen as enemies have pledged support. Notably Venezuela, whose President Hugo Chavez has accused the US government of attempting to assassinate him, was one of the first countries to pledge upwards of $5 million in fuel and assistance. However, the Rev. Jesse Jackson told reporters that the offer was rejected. Cuban president Fidel Castro has twice pledged an army of 1600 doctors, each armed with medical supplies to assist in the relief effort.

Unions from around the world have reached out to help victims of the devastating December 26th tsunami. Killing an estimated 60,000 people, relief agencies are trying to halt the spread of communicable diseases threatening survivors. Transport workers in India have agreed to donate one-day's pay and 100 workers to assist in relief measures. Also in India, the Southern railway Union is distributing food, clothing and medicine. The Swedish Metalworkers Union is donating one million dollars and urging unions in the United States to do the same.