The US has ordered troops to Jordan for possible humanitarian or 'stability' operations in Syria as well as chemical weapons control.

Although about 150 troops were sent to Jordan last year to help train Jordanian and Syrian opposition forces, the dispatch of a headquarters unit may indicate a potential expansion of the US's military role in the region.

Kosovo and Serbia failed to agree on a plan after 14 hours of talks between the respective prime ministers, making talks on Serbia joining the EU in June unlikely.

The EU's Catherine Ashton said that the differences of both sides were "narrow and very shallow", and added:

At least two people have died and over 100 left injured after the Boston Marathon was hit by two explosions on Monday afternoon.

Dramatic footage showed the explosions near the finishing line and blood-covered casualties could be seen being taken away from the scene of the blasts.

Another device was reportedly detonated by police in the same area.

Rwanda slammed the “wagging finger” of the West, as it blocked a United Nations Security Council statement from mentioning the International Criminal Court, at a council meeting on preventing conflict in Africa.

Rwanda's Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo, told the council,

A statement by the main UN agencies has called for the international community to take action against the “carnage” in Syria.

In a rare joint statement by the heads of the WHO, Unicef, Ocha, WFP and UNHRC, the agencies have called for more than just funds to solve the Syrian conflict.

Nicolas Maduro, President-elect of Venezuela, accused the opposition of planning a coup after seven government supporters were killed in clashes over Maduro's election victory.

In a national speech Maduro said:

"This is the responsibility of those who have called for violence, who have ignored the constitution and the institutions,"

The Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix, set to take place later this month, has once again faced intense criticism, after anti-government protests saw a brutal crackdown by the government two years ago.

The 2011 Grand Prix was cancelled with the race taking place the following year amid intense criticism and widespread anti-government protests continuing. More protests are set to commence this week ahead of the scheduled race.

Former F1 World Champion, Damon Hill, has spoken out against the sport’s ruling body’s ambiguous stance on Bahrain,stating,

“Jean Todt's approach has been to say nothing, because otherwise you're being critical, and I think that is a mistake. Because he's being used, or the sport is being perceived as being used, by its engagement in the economy and the reputation of the country.”

"He's not said anything that has distanced the sport from things that it would find distasteful and upsetting, which I believe everyone in the sport would like to do.”

"The vast majority of people in the sport would like to say we don't want to come here to make life worse for people. We would like you to enjoy Formula One. It has lots of positive things to offer. But please don't, on our behalf, round people up and brutalise them. I don't see that being political. It's more ethical than political."

The last British detainee in the US prisoners’ camp at Guantanamo Bay has exposed “deteriorating” conditions of inmates and said there was “systematic torture” by US personnel.

A series of suicide attacks have killed up to 29 people in Mogadishu, Somalia.

The blasts have been blamed on Al-Shabaab, the Somali offshoot of al-Qaeda, and witnesses have reported that at least three suicide bombers were involved.

In response to American sanctions against 18 Russian officials, Russia announced a ban on Saturday on an equal number of Americans.

The US on Friday imposed visa and banking sanctions against Russian officials suspected of human rights abuses.

A spokesperson for Russia's foreign ministry said:

Human Rights watch have slammed air strikes by the Syrian government stating they are “serious violations of international humanitarian law”, in their latest report released earlier this week.

Secretary of State John Kerry has renewed a US pledge to support South Korea against its hostile northern neighbour, after talks in Seoul with President Park Geun-hye and Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se.