Central African Republic peace talks stall over militias amnesty

Since 2018, mercenaries from Russia's Wagner Group, an effective secret army of the Kremlin, have been active in Central African Republic. They protect the impoverished country's regime in exchange for valuable mineral resources and deploy a massive propaganda campaign to cover up the massacres, rapes and torture they are accused of.

Every party involved in the war in northern Ethiopia has committed crimes against humanity, Amnesty International said on Wednesday, calling for a probe into abuses in the nearly two-year conflict.

Following the truce deal between Ethiopia's government and Tigray forces, the country looks ahead to peace and reconciliation. But as Amnesty International researcher Donatella Rovera warns, many women were subject to horrific attacks and not enough is being done to make sure they get justice.

As the World Congress Against the Death Penalty is underway in Berlin, many African countries are witnessing a fall in the number of state executions.

High-profile international prisoners released as part of an amnesty by the junta in Myanmar, including a British former ambassador and an Australian former adviser to Aung San Suu Kyi, have reached Thailand.

Protests that have shaken Iran to its core are entering their fourth month as Tehran continues with executions. At least two protesters have already been hanged.

Those accused of "corruption on earth" and colluding with foreign forces would not be pardoned, state media reported. Former officials meanwhile appealed for political reform.

Hundreds of schoolgirls have been hospitalized across Iran, and parents took to the streets in Tehran to protest. Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the perpetrators should be severely punished.

In a study of over 30 countries, the rights group found that the use of rubber bullets and other projectiles by security forces on protesters has led to injuries and even death.

Amnesty International has released its report on 2022, focusing on Russia's war of aggression on Ukraine and the crackdown on protests in Iran. But the situation in Myanmar has also raised concerns.

At least 883 people were executed worldwide in 2022, says Amnesty International — that's the highest number recorded in five years. Many executions took place in Iran and Saudi Arabia, including of political prisoners.

The prominent journalist and supporter of ex-PM Imran Khan was detained by the Pakistani police, but the authorities then failed to present him in court.