The South African Police Service confirmed the deaths of at least 78 people on Wednesday following the end of a rescue operation at an abandoned mine where miners, cut off from food and water, had been working illegally. The announcement relayed that the bodies of 78 miners had been retrieved, and a total of 246 [...]

A UN expert expressed concern Thursday over Türkiye’s “misuse” of counter-terrorism laws to detain nine prominent human rights defenders and lawyers. UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders Mary Lawlor highlighted arbitrary arrests, unfair trials, and lengthy sentences handed to the nine activists and lawyers, emphasizing that these practices undermine fundamental freedoms [...]

The Supreme Court (SC) of Bangladesh unanimously acquitted former Prime Minister and leader of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Khaleda Zia, of graft charges related to the Zia Orphanage Trust case on Wednesday, local media reported. The verdict also acquitted Khaleda Zia’s son, Tarique Rahman, and four other individuals who had been convicted by [...]

The International community must emphasize climate justice, advocacy group Amnesty International said Thursday. In a financial mobilization statement issued before the World Economic Forum in Davos, the organization highlighted the shortcomings of existing climate finance strategies, which do not adequately tackle the growing effects of climate change, especially in low-income and climate-sensitive countries. Amnesty emphasized [...]

Human rights faced severe tests worldwide in 2024, with democratic institutions under strain and humanitarian law repeatedly violated in major conflicts, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in its annual report released Thursday. The 546-page “World Report 2025” reviewed human rights practices in more than 100 countries, emphasizing the devastating human tolls of conflicts in Gaza, [...]

Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday refused to attend a second day of questioning after being detained over his declaration of martial law, according to local media. Yoon’s lawyers said he did not intend to comply with investigators’ orders to undergo additional questioning, citing concerns over his physical well-being. His team also [...]

United Nations human rights experts expressed serious concern on Tuesday regarding the Iranian Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the death sentence of Kurdish activist Pakhshan Azizi. Experts said that the death sentence is a serious violation of international human rights law, as the severity of the charges against Azizi “do not meet the threshold of most [...]

The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) expressed alarm on Tuesday regarding disturbing footage that demonstrates Libya’s serious human rights violations in the Garnada detention facility. These violations include torture and ill-treatment of detainees. The concerned footage has been circulating on social media, showing prisoners enduring extreme forms of violence in what is believed to be [...]

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled on Tuesday that Türkiye’s dismissal of 42 judges and prosecutors under the controversial 2014 Law No. 6524 violated provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights. In its ruling, the ECHR found that Türkiye had breached Article 6 of the convention, which guarantees the right to a [...]

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded on Wednesday to the alleged death of Oscar Jenkins, a Melbourne man captured while fighting for Ukraine, swearing to take “the strongest action possible” against Russia if Jenkins’ death is confirmed. Jenkins, who had joined Ukrainian forces in their conflict against Russia, was allegedly taken into custody by Russian [...]