South Sudanese rebels were responsible for the death of over 400 ethnically targeted civilians in the past week said the UN mission in South Sudan today.

The mission, in a statement released today, condemned the targeting of civilians based on their ethnic origin in the city of Bentiu.

Catalonia’s president announced today his decision to go ahead with an independence referendum, after seeing little progress in addressing economic and political grievances with Madrid, reports the Financial Times.

The US assistant secretary of state for east-Asia warned that the US was prepared to take action against Burma should they continue to block international NGO’s from working in the Rhakine state, reports The Guardian today.

Speaking after a two week visit to Burma, Daniel Russell said,

The US will continue to engage with India on key issues, whichever party comes to power, a senior US official told the Press Trust of India.

The US government has issued instructions across all departments to identify key areas that they would like to take up with the new Indian government after the elections, the official said, adding that relations with India “transcend” personalities and political parties.

"Let's see what the Indian voters decide... Once the Indian voters decide and we have a government then I will be able to tell you how we are engaging that government. But I will tell you, whatever the Indian voters decide, whatever government comes to power, the US will engage that government, because we have long-term biding national strategic and economic interest in India." the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"On foreign affairs you would see a very great desire by the United States to continue its coordination with India in the neighbourhood, and in the broader region around India going west and going east,

The international community today condemned the Syrian government’s plans to hold elections this summer on June 3 2014, reports the BBC.

The United Nations Secretary General, deemed the election problematic, warning that it could spoil efforts to end the 3 year civil war.

A state department spokesperson warning of the dangers of elections amidst oppression said,

Chinese investment in Taiwan registered a 90% drop in the first quarter of the financial year reports the Central News Agency (CNA).

The Economic Affairs’ Investment Commission noted that Chinese investment in Taiwan was 90.83% lower than last year.

Members of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations called for further business-aimed sanctions against Russia, as pro-Russian separatists continue to occupy key buildings in eastern parts of Ukraine and a strong Russian military presence remains on the border.

Congo confirmed the first batch of former M23 rebels that would receive amnesty in line with an agreement adopted last year, reports the Associated Press.

The Central African Republic is close to facing genocide warned Archbishop Desmond Tutu, in a statement released by the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation today.

“The country stands on the brink of genocide; some would say it has already commenced,” said Tutu in the statement.

The leader of Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the bombing of the capital Abuja last week, reports CNN.

A man claiming to the be the leader, Abubakar Shekau, asserting that  the bomb attack was due to the Nigerian government’s collaboration with the United states, warned of further violence.

The Philippine government and the Islamic rebel group, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) announced today that they would collaborate to reduce the amount of kidnappings occurring in the south of the country.
 
The government negotiator said that the MILF would meet with them again next week, to discuss details of an agreement that would help Filipino troops capture kidnappers and outlaws operating in territories controlled by the MILF.

South Sudanese rebels who recently attacked a United Nations compound, killing dozens of civilians, defended their actions and said they would continue their offensive in the oil producing area to deny the government revenue to engage Ugandan troops and Sudanese militias. See The Independent’s report.

The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday unanimously adopted resolution (2150) in which it called on all states to renew their commitment to prevent and fight against genocide and other serious crimes under international law.