Human Rights Watch condemned the arrest of prominent Bangladesh human rights activist, Adilur Rahman Khan today.

Khan was arrested under allegations that he had spread false information about the Bangladeshi government. Working for the Bangladeshi rights group Odhikar, in May, he published a report on violence during a protest by hard-line Islamists, which was met by deadly police brutality.

 Israel has issued tenders for the construction of nearly 1,200 units of housing in East Jerusalem and the West Bank,  three days before the scheduled start of peace-talks, despite US and Palestinian opposition to the expansion of Jewish settlements.

Three US soldiers of the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force have been killed after an attack by insurgents.

The troops were near Afghanistan’s border with Pakistan in the Paktia province just south of the capital Kabul.

No other details have been released.

Amnesty International called for Cambodian authorities to ensure that no blood was spilt in coming weeks, after armoured personnel carriers were spotted in the main city of Phom Penh.

Amnesty International deputy Asia Pacific director, Isabelle Arradon, warned in a statement,

Local authorities in a town west of Zurich, have introduced restrictions that ban asylum-seekers from visiting public places such as school playgrounds, swimming pools and libraries.

A total of 32 ‘exclusion zones' have been drawn up by the Swiss local authorities, in a move that has been denounced by human rights groups as racist and intolerant.

Over 50 political prisoners in Iran have signed a letter calling on US President Barack Obama to end sanctions against their country.

The letter, published by The Guardian, was signed by several prominent opposition figures and said sanctions currently in place have become collective punishment of the Iranian population.

Ugandan President Yoweri Musaveni has pushed a bill through parliament, banning all forms of public gatherings, including demonstrations.

The Uganda Public Order Management Bill was passed by parliament, although there were objections from some opposition MPs.

Museveni has been in power for 27 years and his government is one of the largest recipients of British aid.

A Saudi prince has offered Russia $15bn worth of arms sales and other economic incentives, if Moscow distances itself from the Syrian government.

The offer was made to the Russian president Vladimir Putin by Prince Bandar bin Sultan, the top intelligence chief in Saudi Arabia.

The prince said they would buy $15 billion (£9.7 billion) of Russian arms and pledged not to threaten Russia’s position as chief gas supplier to Europe, reported The Times.