(Photo Credit: Magharebia)

Libyan military commander, Khalifa Haftar, has been accused of seeking to undertake a coup against the UN-recognised Libyan government, the Government of National Accord (GNA).

The GNA condemned Haftar’s actions stating;

"What the war criminal Haftar said was a coup on the democratic path, not new but a continuation of his failed coups and to cover up his repeated defeats".

<p>The US has stated that it was willing to recognise Israel’s annexation of much of the occupation of the West Banks despite concerns that this will end the possibility for a two-state solution.</p> <p>This follows the unveiling in January of a US Middle East plan which aimed to recognise much of the illegally occupied territory by Israel. The proposed agreement has been widely panned by the European Union. The EU foreign policy chief has described the annexation as a violation of international law.</p> <p>A US State Department stated on the matter:</p> <blockquote><p>

The UN has urged Bangladesh to allow two boats carrying Rohingya refugees to land in Bangladesh.

Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has warned that unless these refugees from Rohingya are supported there will be a "human tragedy of terrible proportions”.

In a letter, Bachelet stated:

"In a spirit of solidarity and at the beginning of the Holy Month of Ramadan, I appeal to you in the strongest terms to open your ports and allow the boats to land”.

<p>Over 40 people have been killed during the conflict between armed militias and the army in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.</p> <p>The greatest number of casualties occurred Friday during attacks on Mahagi in the easter Ituri province where 21 civilians were killed. In Linsey conflict continued on Sunday between the army and militias in the neighbouring Djugu area.</p> <p>Allied Democratic Force (ADF) militants are accused of killing over 1,000 civilians in the Beni region since October 2014.&nbsp;</p> <p>Al Jazeera reports that an estimated 400 people have been killed since last November.</p>

<p>The Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist organisation in Southern Yemen, have announced that they will establish a self-rule region containing the southern port city of Aden.</p> <p>The STC has accused the Saudi-backed government of Yemen of corruption and mismanaging the region. Whilst the international organisation has not expressed support for the autonomous region; the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been largely supportive of the STC.</p> <p>The move follows calls from the UN for a global ceasefire.</p> <p>Alkhader Sulaiman, a representative of the STC, maintained that;</p> <blockquote><p>

<p>The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has extended their ceasefire by a month to curb the spread of the coronavirus.</p> <p>This follows a military ceasefire that ended on Thursday and its extension raises hopes that a lasting and comprehensive to the conflict may be reached.</p> <p>Houthi rebels are demanding a lifting of air and sea blockade imposed by the Saudi-led coalition on regions they control.</p>

António Guterres, UN secretary-general, warned against authoritarians utilising the current virus pandemic to undermine individual human rights, promote racism and restrict free speech.

This statement follows his calls for a global ceasefire and his further warnings that domestic violence will escalate as a result of the pandemic.

<p>Former Syrian colonel, Anwar Raslan, who is accused of committing crimes against humanity will face trial at the Higher Regional Court in Koblenz, Germany.</p> <p>Raslan was arrested whilst in Berlin in mid-February last year and will face trial on Thursday as will Eyad al-Gharib, who worked under Raslan. Raslan’s trial is permitted under the legal principle of universal jurisdiction. According to the German Code of Crimes against International Law, German federal prosecutors are permitted to pursue anyone who commits crimes against humanity.</p>

The UN warns that the coronavirus could lead to almost double the number of people currently suffering hunger meaning that 265 million people will be identified as suffering from “Acute food and livelihood crisis”.

The “acute food and livelihood crisis” is defined by the UN as “critical lack of food access and above usual malnutrition”. This is the third category out of five with the fifth being mass starvation. The UN warns that this starvation is driven by the economic havoc that the coronavirus has caused; it will likely hit the Global South, with Africa in particular, the hardest.

A number of human rights organisations, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and Migrant-Rights, have called upon Saudi authorities to ensure adequate protection for migrant workers.