The UN Special Rapporteur on the freedom of opinion and expression David Kaye has released a report on the violations of freedom of expression globally. 

UN human rights chief Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein said that violence in the Syrian city of Aleppo “constitutes crimes of historic proportions” and should be immediately brought before the International Criminal Court, in a statement released his week.

The statement reads, 

The town of Srebrenica, which saw the genocide of 8,000 Muslim men and boys by Serbian forces in 1995, has seen a Serb nationalist who denies the killings were a genocide elected as its mayor.

Mladen Grujicic was elected to the post earlier this month to the dismay of Bosnian Muslims in the town. Mr Grujicic continues to deny that the massacre constitutes genocide, despite international criminal rulings. “When they prove it to be the truth, I’ll be the first to accept it,” he said.

The South African government has begun a formal withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, after beginning official proceedings according to media reports.

An "Instrument of Withdrawal" document has been signed by South Africa's foreign minister and sent to the United Nations, report several media outlets, who have obtained copies of the document.

Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza signed a decree on Tuesday for Burundi to undertake proceedings to leave the International Criminal Court , reports Reuters.

The decision to remove the country from the ICC came after a parliamentary vote saw 94 parliamentarians vote to leave the ICC whilst 2 voted to remain within its jurisdiction.

The Russian and Syrian forces have halted all air strikes on Aleppo two days ahead of the planned pause to allow rebels and civilians to leave the city reports Reuters.

Saudi Arabia has agreed to a ceasefire if the Houthi militants agree said the Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir on Monday.

Speaking to reporters in London , the Saudi Foreign Minister said, “We are prepared, the Yemeni government is prepared, to agree to a cessation of hostilities if the Houthis agree to it. The coalition countries will respect the desire of the Yemeni government.”

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) announced that it will be discussing the impact of major pharmaceutical companies in a meeting set to take place this week.

Maldives Foreign Minister, Mohamed Asim, announced his government will withdraw from the Commonwealth, after criticism over the country’s human rights record.

“The decision to leave the Commonwealth was difficult, but inevitable,” he said, as the foreign ministry release a statement announcing the move. 

India signed 3 bi-lateral deals with Russia including the purchase of air defence missile systems, reports the Times of India.

Angela Merkel wants to other European Union members to agree to step up sanctions according to sources close to the German chancellor reported.

The issue of sanctions is due to be discussed at an European Union summit on Thursday and Friday.

German papers cited sources  as saying that Ms Merkel was considering further sanctions against the aviation industry or in sectors that affected the Russian Defence Ministry.

The former Catalan leader, Artur Mas is to be prosecuted over the 2014 independence referendum, facing charges of "serious disobedience" and "malfeasance". 

The decision, announced by Catalan's High Court on Thursday, accuses Mr Mas of organising the referendum despite Spain's Constitutional Court imposing an injuction on it. 

If found guilty, Mr Mas will be prohibited from holding public office for 10 years. 

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told her party’s Glasgow conference that an independence Referendum Bill would be published later next week.

Speaking at the Scottish National Party (SNP) conference in Glasgow, Ms Sturgeon, said,

The destruction caused by Hurricane Matthew has killed an estimated 1,000 people in Haiti, amidst fresh reports of cholera outbreaks in the country, as it ended 3 days of national mourning on Tuesday.