The US Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday released transcripts of its interview with Jeffrey Epstein’s former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently imprisoned over a sex-trafficking case. According to the transcripts, Maxwell recalled that she first knew about Donald Trump, and possibly met him, in 1990 when she visited the US on a business [...]

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called on the Kazakh government Monday to reinstate accreditation for 16 journalists from the US-funded broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). This comes ahead of the outlet’s pending appeal hearing. CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia program coordinator, Gulnoza Said, stated, “RFE/RL’s bold reporting has an absolutely central place in [...]

Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated on Monday that law enforcement officers used “excessive force and deliberate brutality” in response to protests against immigration raids in Los Angeles, California, from June 6 to 14. According to HRW, while the protests had largely been peaceful, the law enforcement officers frequently used a range of “less lethal” weapons, [...]

Human Rights Watch (HRW) expressed concern on Friday over accusations of human rights abuses in Sri Lanka, stating that a recent report by the UN Human Rights Office highlights the need for accountability. HRW specifically urged the UN Human Rights Council to take action to protect human rights in the country, including by supporting the [...]

The UN raised alarm on Thursday over the sharp increase in conflict-related sexual violence in 2024, stating that “ore than 4,600 survivors endured abuses used as weapons of war, torture, terrorism and political repression” throughout the year. The UN urged all involved parties to “adopt clear orders prohibiting sexual violence” and “ensure accountability.” The UN [...]

Representatives of France and the New Caledonian political forces signed an agreement on Saturday establishing a “State of New Caledonia” within the French republic. President Emmanuel Macron hailed the agreement, which was reached after 10 days of discussions, as “historic.” He stated, “The time has now come for respect, stability, and the coming together of [...]

The US government imposed sanctions against Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and other top Cuban officials on Friday, marking the fourth anniversary of the authorities’ crackdown on the July 2021 protests on the island. The US Department of State restricted the visa access of several individuals, including judicial and prison officials, stating:  Four years ago, thousands [...]

The UN criticized Germany on Friday over its plans to deport Afghans back to their country, which remains under the harsh rule of the Taliban regime. This comes after German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt unveiled his plans to speak directly with the Taliban to make deportations to Afghanistan possible. Ravina Shamdasani, speaking for the Office [...]

UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Saturday strongly condemned Russia’s largest wave of drone and missile attacks in Ukraine, especially noting strikes that disrupted the power supply to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), endangering nuclear safety. Guterres, in a statement issued by his spokesperson, said: The Secretary-General is alarmed by this dangerous escalation and the [...]

A UN Special Rapporteur on climate change and human rights urged countries on Monday to phase out fossil fuels to combat the climate crisis following the 10 hottest years in history, which saw average global temperatures reach 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels in 2024, exceeding the Paris Agreement threshold. Presenting her latest report to [...]