<p>The US has started withdrawing troops from Afghanistan after signing a historic peace agreement with the Taliban.</p> <p>The US agreed to withdraw its troops from about 12,000 to 8,600 within 135 days of signing the agreement.</p> <p>US officials signed the peace agreement with Taliban representatives on February 29, aiming to bring an end to the 19 year conflict.</p>

<p>Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called upon authorities negotiating an Afghanistan peace agreement to centre discussions on human rights and in particular to be inclusive of women and activists.</p>

<p>Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on the UN Human Rights Council to renew pressure on South Sudan.</p> <p>This follows the Human Rights most recent report on the situation in South Sudan which details continuing human rights abuses such as the forceful recruitment of children for combat as well as gender-based violence, abductions and deliberate starvation of civilian populations.&nbsp;</p>

The Joint Arab List, representing Israeli Palestinians, made historic gains in Israel’s election securing 15 out of 120 seats in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, preventing Prime Minister Netanyahu from gaining a majority.

UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, has called for an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire in the region as tens of thousands of civilians have been forced to flee from the northern province of Al-Jawf after violent clashes.

This follows the Houthi rebels capturing the provincial capital of Al-Hazm which sparked further violence in the region during a month in which both sides felt hope for a permanent de-escalation of the conflict.

Over 20 human rights organisation have called on the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to adopt a resolution renewing a their commitment to monitor and repair on the dire situation in Nicaragua.

The ICC has ruled to launch an investigation examining the war crimes committed by US, Afghan and Taliban troops during the Afghanistan war, overturning a previous rejection of the inquiry.

India has restored some internet access in Kashmir for the first time since the region had its autonomy revoked and was placed in a lockdown in August.

The measure will allow limited access to social media and may provide better reporting on what is going on in Kashmir.

Kenya has accused Somalia’s army of launching an unwarranted attack on Mandera, following conflict breaking out on the Somali border town of Bulohawo between the Somali government and semi-autonomous region of Jubaland on Monday.

India has defended its controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which is accused of being discriminatory to Muslims, from the UN Human Rights Council which have lodged an intervention application requesting that India’s Supreme Court register their opposition to the bill.

UN investigators have reported that Russia and Turkey have committed attacks in Syria which may amount to war crimes; this includes attacks on Kurdish held territories.

Canada has joined 6 other countries in requesting that the International Criminal Court (ICC) not continue with hearings on Israeli war crimes, claiming that the Court did not hold a right of jurisdiction as Canada does not recognise a Palestinian state.

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