Russia: Chechen human rights activist jailed

A Nigerian judge on Wednesday adjourned the treason trial of separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu until January after his lead lawyer walked out of court because security agents refused other defence lawyers into the courtroom. Bruce Fein, the American lawyer of Nnamdi Kanu, also threatened to drag Nigeria before the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged gross violation of his client’s rights. At his last court appearance last month, Kanu, a British citizen, pleaded not guilty to seven charges, which included terrorism, calling for secession and knowingly falsehoods about President Muhammadu Buhari, and membership of an outlawed group. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Kanu's lead lawyer had planned to ask the court to dismiss the charges, saying they were incompetent.

Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso deployed police and the military to "take control of all the country's prisons" after scores of inmates were killed in gang clashes.

Doctors have accused security forces of firing live rounds at pro-democracy demonstrators and killing four of them.

The Doctors Committee said two people have been killed by authorities. Sudan's military leader has vowed to crack down on protesters demanding civilian rule, saying they "would not achieve a political solution."

The latest round of protests against Sudan's military are met with tear gas, sparking clashes with security forces. Rallies were held in Khartoum and neighbouring cities on Tuesday. Also, the first findings of an inquiry into corruption under former South African president Jacob Zuma establish that state decisions were shaped by private individuals and interests during his nine years in power. Finally, we sample the Pan-African offerings of award-winning experimental Congolese chef Dieuveil Malonga at his Kigali restaurant.

The Central Committee of Sudanese doctors say seven civilians have been killed by security forces. UN Security Council members urged "utmost restraint."

One protester was killed as security forces confronted thousands of people protesting against military rule in Sudan's capital Khartoum on Sunday (January 30), medics linked to the demonstrations said. The 27-year-old, Mohamed Yousef Ismail, was hit in the chest, the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors (CCSD) said.

Human rights were among the first casualties of the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia. While both sides continue to accuse each other of atrocities, independent organizations find it increasingly difficult to monitor abuses.

The German car giant has claimed its presence in Xinjiang has a positive impact despite reports of ongoing human rights abuses. VW is also facing accusations of using slave labor in Brazil under the former dictatorship.

A report by Human Rights Watch has accused Anglophone rebels of "kidnapping, terrorizing and killing civilians" in parts of the country.

Security forces have fired tear gas on Hausa protesters who marched in several cities after clashes in the southern Blue Nile province. The UN said around 100 people had been killed in the unrest

A Sudanese security armoured vehicle on Thursday fired tear gas at demonstrators in Khartoum while it was pelted with rocks and bricks, as an anti-military campaign carried into its tenth month.