A former sergeant with the SS has been charged on 3,681 counts of accessory to murder, dating back to his time as a medic in the Auschwitz concentration camp during the Nazi reign.

The 94-year old suspect is said to have helped the camp function, according to state Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania state prosecutor Stefan Urbanek.

Defence lawyer Peter-Michael Distel told the Bild newspaper there was no evidence of a "concrete criminal act".

A New York court has fined the Palestine Liberation Organisation $218mn after it held the group liable for attacks in Israel 10 years ago, in which Americans were amongst the victims.

The jury ruled in favour of 10 American families who sought damages relating to the 6 attacks, which killed 33 and injured hundreds.

The families of the victims say internal documents prove the Palestinian authorities approved the attacks.

"Those involved in the attacks still receive salaries from the Palestinian Authority and still get promoted in rank while in jail," said Nitsana Darshan-Leitner of the Israel-based Shurat HaDin Law Center, one of the lawyers representing the families.

At least two people have died after a bomb exploded at a rally in Kharkiv to mark a year since the toppling of pro-Russia leader Viktor Yanukovych.

Eyewitness Alexei Grechnev told the BBC: "We were walking in a column of people, in the front section, when I heard a loud boom and saw some people fall to the ground a few metres away from me, a somewhat unexpected and unreal scene, like in movies."

Ukraine's second largest city is near the Russian border but is outside the conflict zone.

The ceasefire, in effect since last week, continues to be breached by both sides, but the government has agreed to withdraw heavy weapons from Sunday, with rebels agreeing to do the same from Tuesday.

An Egyptian court has charged 215 supporters of the proscribed Muslim Brotherhood with establishing a militant group and killing six policemen.

Chief Prosecutor Hesham Barakat said the Helwan Brigade was formed to support the banned organisation and accused them of killing the policemen in Cairo.

The government arrested thousands of those thought to be supportive of the Muslim Brotherhood since President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi came into power in 2013, after the ouster of the brotherhood's Mohammad Morsi.

The US is considering "serious sanctions" against Russia, over its conduct in relation to the conflict in Ukraine said Secretary of State John Kerry.

Speaking during a visit to London, Mr Kerry accused Russia of "craven behaviour" by supporting the rebels, which undermined a recent ceasefire.

"Russia has engaged in an absolutely brazen and cynical process over these last days," he said.

"We're not going to sit there and be part of this kind of extraordinarily craven behaviour at the expense of the sovereignty and integrity of a nation."

"In the next few days I anticipate that President Obama will evaluate the choices that are in front of him and will make his decision," he said.

The Nigerian army says it has recaptured a town held by Boko Haram since January 3, after a "fierce battle".

The army said in a tweet, mopping up operations were continuing in Baga, in the northeast of Nigeria.

Defence spokesperson Chris Olukolade claimed that "a large number of terrorists" drowned in Lake Chad as they tried to flee bombardment from air force jets.

Baga's captue by Boko Haram saw an ankown number killed by the militants, with locals saying over 2,000 people may have died.

An attack on a hotel near Somalia's presidential palace on Friday, has killed at least 11 people and injured the deputy prime minister.

Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack on the Central Hotel, which was hit by two car bombs and stormed by heavily armed fighters and suicide bombers.

The death toll could be as many as 20 people, with reports of the attack still emerging. Amongst those reportedly killed is the deputy mayor of Mogadishu, with several other high ranking government officials present at the hotel when it was attacked. Deputy Prime Minister Mohamed Omar Arte is currently in hospital.