Police officers advised to protect citizens’ rights

There is uncertainty over reports suggesting the notorious vice squad has been shut down. In any case, authorities have other powerful means of monitoring behavior and issuing punishment.

Wildlife trafficking is the third most profitable illegal activity in the world, after arms trafficking and drug trafficking. In Brazil, where traffickers can earn nearly $2 billion a year, some 80 percent of trafficked animals are birds – often endangered species.

A three-day general strike is taking place in Iran this week. It's a show of defiance, as the anti-regime protest movement approaches its three-month mark with no sign of abating. On Monday, the strike was observed in dozens of Iranian cities, from the capital Tehran to Isfahan, Tabriz and the Kurdish regions.

Riot police in Thailand regularly meet peaceful demonstrations with heavy force, leading to serious injuries or even death. Activists are calling for reforms and more accountability.

Over the past few years, tens of thousands of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa have been expelled from Algeria into Niger. They are taken to the border between the two countries, an open desert, and must then cross 15km on foot to reach the village of Assamaka.

A Hong Kong judge has criticized police for banning a vigil to mourn the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. The court overturned the conviction of an activist who had urged people to attend.

Yemi Ademolekun, Executive Director of Enough is Enough talks about the 2023 election, governance, and citizens' participation in politics.

The self-declared "Islamic State" said it was responsible for the blast that killed at least nine police officers near Kirkuk. The militia is still active in parts of Iraq, despite Baghdad declaring victory over it.

A shootout left three officers dead as police were trying to arrest a suspect in the killing of a commander in the southern city of Maan. Unrest ripped through the region last week after a strike over fuel prices.

After talks broke down, Pakistani security forces stormed a counter-terrorism center to free officials held hostage by Taliban militants.

Economy Minister Robert Habeck said Germans are not using as much heating as the prior year, despite the cold winter.

Beijing is freezing the assets of two Americans involved in Washington's policies regarding Tibet. The move follows US sanctions on Chinese officials earlier this month.