The United Nations children’s fund (UNICEF) expressed concern at reports that emergency food and humanitarian aid was not reaching civilians in Syria due to theft by combatants.
Fighting erupted between Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday, killing four Ukrainian soldiers. Gennady Moskal, governor of the Luhansk region bordering Russia stated on his website that separatists initiated fire on government positions.
North Korea has cancelled a planned visit by UN Secretary-General, Ban-Ki Moon a day before it was scheduled. Mr. Ban had planned to visit an industrial park in the Kaesong economic zone that is jointly run by South Korea and North Korea.
In comments at a forum in Seoul the secretary general said that no explanation was given and the move was “deeply regrettable”.
In a statement on Tuesday the government of the Philippines has offered refuge to asylum-seekers stranded on boats in the Andaman Sea. Herminio Coloma, a spokesperson for the President said the Philippines would continue its tradition of extending “humanitarian assistance” to “ ‘boat people’” and “continue to do [their] share in saving lives under existing and long-standing mechanisms pursuant to our commitments under the [UN] convention.”
Heightening political tensions in Burundi has caused an influx of refugees to neighbouring countries said the United Nations on Tuesday.
Speaking to press, the World Health Organisation spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic said the population of Burundi refugee camp in Tanzania had increased to 90,000.
Hundreds of people protested in the streets of Burundi on Monday following a failed coup last week to oust the country's president.
Protests have been ongoing in Burundi since April when President Pierre Nkurunziza announced he would be running for a third term. Presidents are limited to two terms in office by both the 2000 Arusha accords that ended Burundi’s civil conflict and the country’s 2005 constitution.
Unlike previous weeks however, protesters clashed with armed military personnel as officials warned against protests. The government of Burundi is seen to be ramping up its campaign against protests with army patrols roaming the capital and soldiers stationed in areas where protests were expected.
The Saudi Arabia-led military coalition resumed strikes against Houthi militants in Yemen on Monday, hours after the expiration of the humanitarian ceasefire in spite of calls for an extension by the UN.
The European Union has approved a plan to use naval forces to intercept migrant smuggler ships operating from North African countries, such as Libya, at a meeting of EU defence ministers and foreign ministers on Monday.
The plan aims to militarise the EU response to the surge in migrant smuggling ships crossing the Mediterranean, where thousands of asylum-seekers have already died attempting the perilous journey.
The plan to use naval force still requires further approvals from European governments and legal legitimacy from the UN Security Council, in addition to possible cooperation from countries in North Africa. The UK will play a leading role at the Security Council in drafting a resolution that provides the legal basis for this use of naval force.
Prime Minster Narendra Modi's visit to China is concluding today, with the signing of $22bn (£14bn) worth of trade and economic cooperation agreements.
The deals signed during his 3-day visit cover a range of industries including renewable energy, the financial sector and ports.
"Let us work together in mutual interests," said Mr Modi. "Now India is ready for business."
More deals worth $10bn (£6.3bn), covering education, railways, and scientific research were signed on Friday.
An Egyptian court sought the death penalty for former president Mohamed Morsi who was ousted from Presidency in the 2013 uprisings.
Mr Morsi and 106 other supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood are being tried for their connection with a mass jail break in 2011. Egyptian prosecutors alleged that the Bortherhood was planning of sending elements to receive training from Lebanon’s Hezbollah militants.
Armed groups across Libya are responsible for crimes that could leave them liable in front of the International Criminal Court, warned the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL.)
