rights group

At least 35 people were killed in Darfur, Sudan, when a drone strike hit a gathering at a court. A rights group blames the army for the attack. The strike adds to mounting civilian casualties in Sudan's war and is drawing renewed international concern over attacks on civilian and judicial gatherings.

Prime Minister Mark Carney's investment summit in Canada welcomed investors from the United Arab Emirates, drawing criticism because human rights groups say the UAE has supplied weapons, logistics, training and foreign personnel to Sudan's Rapid Support Forces, the paramilitary group accused of widespread atrocities in the country's civil war. Critics argue hosting Emirati capital without accountability undermines Canada's stated human rights commitments.

Lebanese prisoners have been on hunger strike for 18 days, in what advocates describe as a dire situation amid worsening conditions in the country's detention system. The protest has drawn attention from regional media and rights groups, raising concerns about the inmates' health and the response of Lebanese authorities to their demands.

Gaza's media office says 263 Palestinian journalists have been killed since Israel's war on Gaza began, a figure circulated by Middle East Monitor. The toll, if confirmed, would make the conflict one of the deadliest ever recorded for members of the press. Rights groups and press freedom organisations have repeatedly called for independent investigations and protection for reporters covering the war.

A group of Oregon Democrats in Congress, including Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley along with Representatives Bonamici, Salinas, Hoyle, Dexter and Bynum, announced their opposition to the Trump administration's handling of immigration courts. The lawmakers accuse the administration of undermining due process rights and politicizing the immigration court system. The joint statement highlights ongoing Democratic pushback against the administration's immigration enforcement policies.

Human rights organizations have petitioned a United Nations panel to pressure US Immigration and Customs Enforcement over its practice of concealing the locations of detained immigrants. The groups argue the secrecy obstructs lawyers, families, and monitors from finding detainees, violating due process and international human rights obligations, and they want the UN body to formally address the matter with the US government.

Iran has executed Majid Nikandish and Ali Hemati-Sistani, two men arrested during the January protests, by hanging in Mashhad. The executions were reported by the human rights group Iran Human Rights, which documents use of the death penalty against protesters in Iran. The move has drawn attention to Iran's practice of executing detainees from the protest movement after what rights groups describe as flawed proceedings.

Human rights organisations are calling for the release of the entire staff of Matsadaash, an Egyptian investigative journalism platform, who have reportedly been detained. Press freedom and rights groups, including the MENA Rights Group, are pressing Egyptian authorities to free the journalists and drop any charges. The case has drawn attention to mounting pressure on independent media in Egypt.

Amnesty International has accused the Malian armed forces and the Russian Wagner Group of committing war crimes in Mali. The human rights organisation says the allegations relate to abuses committed during operations against armed groups in the country, where Russian mercenaries have been fighting alongside government troops. The accusation adds to mounting international scrutiny of Mali's security partnership with Moscow and the conduct of its military campaign.

The UN refugee agency has voiced concern over Malaysia's return of people to Myanmar, saying such deportations could put vulnerable individuals at risk. Malaysia is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention and regularly detains and deports undocumented migrants, including Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar. Rights groups have repeatedly urged Malaysia to halt such returns.

Ayoub Mohammad Nabil, an Iraqi national, has been sentenced to death on accusations of spying for Saudi Arabia. The sentence was reported by the rights group Iran Human Rights, which highlighted the case amid ongoing concern over capital punishment for espionage charges in the region. Details about the trial, the evidence presented, and where the sentence was handed down remain limited.

Human rights groups have asked a United Nations panel to intervene in Immigration and Customs Enforcement's practice of concealing the locations of detainees in the United States. The organisations argue that hiding where people are held prevents families and lawyers from finding them and violates basic due process rights. The appeal asks the UN to press the US government to end the secrecy.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations is calling on US courts to take notice and on Congress to prioritize the No BAN Act after the White House highlighted a 96% reduction in legal immigration from Muslim-majority countries. CAIR says the figures amount to an admission of policies targeting Muslim immigrants and backs legislation to bar religious discrimination in immigration decisions.

Spain has ordered an investigation after a human rights group alleged that Spanish troops abused migrants in Ceuta, the Spanish enclave on the North African coast. The allegations concern the treatment of people who attempted to enter the territory. The probe will examine the conduct of security forces, and the case has drawn attention to how Spain handles migrant arrivals at its border.