A French journalist has been killed in Central African Republic, announced the office of the French President Francois Hollande, today.

The journalist was found dead by French soldiers after they stopped a vehicle driven by Christian militias that predominantly fight with the Seleka rebels, reports Reuters.

The International Crimes Tribunal Bangladesh (ICTB), yesterday, charged a former parliamentary lawmaker with war crimes reports the Jurist.

Pro-separation rebels, in Ukraine’s eastern region of Donetsk claimed self-rule after alleging that 89% of the voted for independence in yesterday’s referendum, reports the BBC.

Results from the referendum from the region of Luhansk are expected shortly.

Ukraine's interim President, Olexandr Turchynov called the vote a farce that had no legal implications.

Boko Haram leaders said today that children they had abducted would be released if imprisoned militants were released. 

The Nigerian Interior minister Abba Moro, told the BBC that the government would not agree to any kind of swap deal.

Thousands voted today in a referendum held in the eastern regions of Ukraine to determine the creation of a separate ‘people’s republic,’ reports The Guardian.

South Sudan’s President Salva Kir and rebel leader Riek Machar, agreed a peace-deal today, reports the BBC.

The agreement calls for the establishment of an immediate ceasefire and formation of a transitional government followed by the drafting of a new constitution and new elections.

Serbia's new Deputy Prime Minister, Ivica Dačić, reiterated that the country would never recognise the independence of Kosovo, thanking Slovakia for its "principled stance on Kosovo" and its support for Serbia's EU membership bid.

“Your presence and engagement is invaluable,” said Mr. Dačić also Serbia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, was speaking to reporters after a meeting with his Slovakian counterpart, Miroslav Lajčak, in Belgrade on Friday.

The United Nations Security Council, yesterday, imposed sanction on individuals from both sides of conflicting parties in the Central African Republic, reports Reuters.

The African National Congress (ANC) has taken a decisive lead in South Africa’s elections, press reports said Thursday.

With 80% of the results in, the ANC has 63% of the vote, followed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) on 22%. Turnout was just over 72%. See the BBC’s report.

Britain’s Ministry of Defence has launched an investigation into photos that emerged, showing at least one British soldier with a dead Taliban fighter.

Two members of the RAF have already been withdrawn from frontline duties.

Chinese engineers are allegedly in talks over a high speed rail link that links to the United States, reports The Guardian.

Separatists in the eastern regions of Ukraine, today, voted to hold a referendum on independence and denied the Russian President’s calls to wait until peace-talks finished, reports the Independent.

The co-chairman of the de-facto government in Donetsk, announced that the referendum would be held on May 11.

The United Nations today accused both sides of the South Sudanese conflict of committing crimes against humanity reports Reuters.

A 62 page report by the UN peacekeeping mission to South Sudan (UNMISS) called for further investigations after finding sufficient evidence relating to crimes against humanity.