At least 22 people including 3 workers from the medical charity Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF), were killed in an attack on a town in the Central African Republic today, officials said on Sunday.

The United States secretary of state, John Kerry, concluded in a closed door meeting today, that  a two state solution looked to be the best way to solve the tensions between the Palestinian and Israeli communities, reports The Guardian.

Reports suggest that, expressing frustration at the failing peace-talks between the two parties, Kerry said,

The US imposed further sanctions on Russia today as a warning message against Russia’s destabilising actions in Eastern Ukraine.

The sanctions targeted 17 companies linked to the Russian president’s inner circle, 3 banks and deny export licence applications to Russia, reports the Financial times.

Leaders of the G7 major economies agreed to intensify sanctions against Russia this weekend, reports The Guardian.

The Palestinian Authority today reaffirmed its commitment to seek membership of United Nations bodies and international conventions.

A statement by the central council said that the it “affirms the need for Palestinian leadership to continue membership of UN agencies and international conventions, under the Palestinian plan that was adopted.”

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The Kenyan president said that he would not let the conflict in South Sudan descend into genocide, reports Reuters today.

“We especially reject the possibility that we are creeping into genocide again in our region. We shall not stand by and allow it to happen,” Uhuru Kenyatta said, in a statement made late on Friday.

Rebels in the Central African Republic today called for secession as the conflict worsened between ethnic communities, reports The Guardian.
 

The International Criminal Court (ICC) announced today that a preliminary investigation into allegations of crimes against humanity had begun, reports Reuters.

Human Rights Watch urged Israel to stop shooting civilians in Gaza in a press brief released today.

Citing over 60 civilian shooting in 2014, Human Rights Watch emphasised that Israel were repeatedly violating international law by shooting at unarmed civilians near the Gaza perimeter.

The Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, condemning the shootings, said,

War ships from the Indian fleet took part in drills with the Chinese Navy to celebrate its 65th anniversary, off the coast of China.

Bangladesh, Pakistan, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei also took part in the drills, codenamed ‘Maritime Cooperation 2014’, organised by the People’s Liberation Army.

Tamil Nadu goes to the polls today in India's Lok Sabha election, in the third stage of the country's staggered election process.

Voting for the 39 parliamentary seats will take place across all 39 Tamil Nadu constituencies in one single day.

Polling is also taking place in constituencies in ten other states across the country, including Assam, Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.

Votes will be counted on May 16.

The Israeli prime minister today declared an end to peace talks with Palestine in response to a unity deal struck between the Fatah-led Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and Hamas.

The decision came after a five hour meeting of the Israeli Security Cabinet reports the Financial Times.

Russia and China blocked a proposal by the United States and France to impose UN sanctions on the former president of Central African Republic (CAR) for his involvement in escalating conflict in the region, reports Reuters.

The motion to place sanctions on François Bizize and other individuals was objected by the two nations at the last minute.

The Armenian president in a statement marking the 99th anniversary of the start of the mass killings and deportations, accused Turkey of ignoring the facts, reports The Guardian.