Punished in Italy for saving lives; UN Syria discussions blocked; Saudi Crown Prince visits US; insulting national anthem perilous in Hong Kong; women's shelters under attack in Afghanistan; enforced disappearances in Pakistan; power games in Burundi; catastrophe looms in DR Congo; Venezuelan journalists won't be silenced.

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As Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) is beginning his three week tour to the US with a visit to the White House today, Washington policymakers are likely to praise the future king’s much-marketed economic and social reform plans. Their focus should be on Saudi Arabia's awful human rights record and what the Saudi-led campaign has done in Yemen, given MBS is also the Defense Minister.
This week marks the start of Baselworld, one of the world’ largest jewelry and watch fairs. It's a glamorous event displaying stunning new jewelry and watches. But HRW has documented how precious minerals, such as gold and diamonds, are sometimes mined under abusive conditions and child forced labor. We've launched a campaign asking big jewelry companies to come clean on their sourcing. Join us and take action now!
Oyub Titiev, the Grozny director of Russian human rights group Memorial, has spent more than 70 days in jail in Chechnya. Memorial is the last remaining human rights group that works openly in Chechnya, after Chechnya’s leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, turned this republic of Russia into an enclave of fear.
From earlier today: Italy has impounded the ship of a Spanish rescue group and threatened criminal charges against two members of its crew and the organization’s founder. The ship’s crew had refused to hand refugees rescued in international waters over to Libyan coast guard forces knowing they could face possible torture and rape in Libyan detention centers.
Meanwhile, yet another attempt to prompt United Nations Security Council discussion on Syria's grave human rights situation has failed.
A new law that is to be discussed by Hong Kong’s Legislative Council this week could land anyone who “performs or sings” the Chinese national anthem “in a distorted or derogatory manner” in prison for up to three years.
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