The trial of soldiers accused of abuse began today in Côte d’Ivoire. Whilst welcoming the beginning of the trial a "positive development", Human Rights Watch drew attention to the fact that "little progress has been made in investigating the most politically sensitive cases involving government forces."

A convicted Macedonian war criminal has received a massive welcome from tens of thousands of people, after serving an 8 year sentence for war crimes committed during the country’s conflict with ethnic Albanians.

Former police officer Johan Tarculovski was found guilty by a UN tribunal for the murder of three ethnic Albanian civilians, to which he was sentenced to 12 years in prison. He was released from a German jail after serving 8 years.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the crisis, US President Barack Obama called on North Korea to end its 'belligerent approach' on Thursday as US intelligence concluded that the country has a nuclear weapon small enough to be delivered by ballistic missiles.

The US has threatened to shoot down any North Korean missiles appearing to be targeted at Us territories or allies.

Although the President said that the US would take all measures required to protects its people, Obama told reporters:

Nigerian militant group Boko Haram has rejected the President's idea of an amnesty based on a claim of no wrongdoing on their behalf.

The believed leader of the group, Abubakar Shekau made the announcement via an audio statement, in which he is quoted as saying:

"Surprisingly, the Nigerian government is talking about granting us amnesty. What wrong have we done? On the contrary, it is we that should grant you [a] pardon."

Shekau further added that it was the Nigerian government committing atrocities against Muslims.

The South Korean government has raised its alert level to “vital threat”, amidst further escalation in tensions with North Korea.

US and South Korean sources have reported that at least one ballistic missile is fuelled and ready to be launched, indicating that Pyongyang is preparing for another missile test.

Read more here.

Five Indian troops were killed in South Sudan while escorting a UN convoy in Jonglei state.

The office of the Secretary General said that the peacekeepers, serving with the UN Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (Unmiss), were killed during an attack by rebels, along with two Unmiss national staff and five civilian staff contractors.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement that he was "appalled" by the attack in Gumuruk, and called on "the government of South Sudan to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice".

Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday that Bharaini police had arrested 20 opposition activists in the towns near Bahrain’s Formula One circuit in a sign of rising political tension before the Grand Prix in April.

The Grand Prix is the biggest sporting event hosted by the country and the government is hoping to get a big turnout this year despite continuing unrest and dissent over the current leadership.

The Syrian government has rejected attempts by the United Nations to send a team to investigate the use of chemical weapons into the country.

A UN team is currently stationed in Cyprus awaiting permission to travel to Syria.  UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stated,

The postponement of ceasefire negotiations between the Burmese government and Kachin rebels on Friday was because China had objected to the presence of Western observers at the talks, Kachin civil society groups say.

See The Irrawady’s report here.

A Burmese government team had been scheduled to meet with representatives of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) in the Kachin State capital Myitkyina on Friday.

Human Rights Watch urged the government of Chad to arrest Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir or bar him from the country, in a news release today.

Al-Bashir is expected to travel to Chad today, to attend the Greenbelt Conference of the Community of Sahel-Saharan States, according to news reports.

Al-Bashir has been indicted of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC).