Hungary: Orban seeks indefinite power in virus bill | EUobserver

In a draft bill Hungary’s ruling government seeks special powers uncontrolled by parliament, election, referendums, courts for an indefinite amount of time, rights groups worry.

DRC: Prominent Congolese lawyer falls victim to COVID-19 | Human Rights Watch

The human rights community in the Democratic Republic of Congo mourns the passing of one of its most respected figures.

China: UN rights experts express ‘grave concern’ about welfare of arrested lawyers | Hong Kong Free Press

A group of independent UN rights experts said on Monday they were “gravely concerned” about the welfare of three human rights lawyers “forcibly disappeared” by Chinese authorities shortly after their arrests last December.

Iran: Human rights lawyer sentenced to 18 years in jail | Iran Human Rights Monitor

A revolutionary court in Iran has sentenced human rights lawyer Soheila Hejab to 18 years in prison.

UK: The Northern Irish ghost companies that mask crime worldwide | openDemocracy

Exploitation of workers, corruption and money-laundering, all kept in the shadows by lax regulation. Could Northern Ireland become “the new Panama”?

Iran: US announces new sanctions against Iran despite coronavirus crisis | Middle East Eye

The new measures come despite pleas from key members of Congress and world powers that Washington ease its unilateral sanctions, as Iran struggles to cope with the rapidly spreading coronavirus.

Venezuela: US harasses Venezuela amidst the COVID-19 pandemic | teleSUR English

Regardless of the human costs that the economic blockade causes to the Venezuelan people, US Attorney General William Barr Thursday announced that his country will designate Venezuela as a state sponsoring terrorism.

UN calls for countries to reduce prison populations | NPR

The UN is calling for countries to reduce the number of people in detention, saying that “physical distancing and self-isolation in such conditions are practically impossible”.