The Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law completing the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine on Friday, amidst a wave of sanctions from the EU and the US.

Responding to the US' announcement of further sanctions targeting Putin's inner circle, President Putin said that Moscow would respond in kind.

French judicial officials have filed preliminary charges related to Rwanda’s genocide against a doctor who resides and practices in France.

The United States President, Barack Obama, heightened pressure on the Russian leadership today, by extending sanctions to target some of Russia’s closet business and political allies.

A blacklist outlining personal sanctions taken against 20 people was released by the state department today.

The United Nations Human Rights Chief, Navi Pillay, warned today that ethnic rifts between the Christian and Muslim communities in Central African Republic had reached a ‘terrifying level.’

Air Canada will suspend its flight to Venezuela following civil unrest and political instability that saw violent crackdowns on protestors last week.

A statement released on the flight provider’s website read,

Western diplomats warned South Sudan's warring sides that targeted sanctions may be employed, a day before peace-talks are set to resume.

In a joint statement by the United States, Britain, Norway and the European Union, the states warned,

"If the government and any other actor tries to undermine the peace process and rebuff the IGAD heads of state, they will face consequences."

Ukraine plans to withdraw its troops  "quickly and efficiently" from Crimea, the BBC reports, citing Kiev's security chief.

Stressing that they would not be forced to leave against their well, Ukraine's interim Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsya told the BBC,

The latest oral update on the independent international commission of inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, highlighted several cases of unlawful killings, torture and other forms of ill-treatment, sexual and gender-based violence, violations of children’s rights, attacks on hospitals and unlawful sieges and barricades.

Leading religious figures from the Central Afircan Republic (CAR) travelled to the United Nations in New York to warn of an impending genocidal war in the CAR.

In a joint statement, a leading Catholic prelate, Protestant leader and Islamic imam stressed the threat of a ‘genocidal war’ between religious factions in the country.

Ukraine’s military announced today that one of its officers had been killed after Russian forces stormed a military base in Crimea.

The Russian attack came shortly after the Russian President Vladmir Putin and leaders in Crimea signed a declaration that joined Crimea wit the Russian federation.

Ukraine has no authorised its troops to fire in self-defence.

The United States and European Union, imposed sanctions on Russian and Crimean officials involved in the separation of Crimea from Ukraine, after Russian President Vladmir Putin signed a decree that declared Crimea a sovereign state today.

Anticipating further moves by Russia to appropriate other parts of Ukraine, the US President, Barack Obama, said,

A U.N report outlining severe crimes against humanity committed by North-Korea was rejected by China at the United Nations Human Rights Council today.

A counsellor at China’s mission to Geneva, Chen Chuandong, told the UNHRC that the independent commission of inquiry set up by the council had made accusations and recommendations that were “divorced from reality.”

Venezualean troops stormed a square in Caracus, to evict protestors that had occupied the area in six weeks of anti-president demonstrations.

Soldiers of the Venezualean National Guard stormed the square using teargas and water cannons to overthrow hundreds of demonstrators.