Israel’s defence minister rejected calls for an inquiry into the killing of 15 Palestinians by Israeli security forces shooting at a Palestinian protest at the Gaza Israel border on Friday.

The violence was met by calls from the UN Secretary General for an immediate independent and transparent investigation into the deaths of Palestinian civilians.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has taken into custody a suspect implicated with war crimes and crimes against humanity in Mali.

The United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called for an independent and transparent investigation into the deaths and injuries along Gaza’s border with Israel.

Following an emergency meeting on Friday, deputy spokesperson for the UN Sec-Gen Farhan Haq said that Guterres wants an “independent transparent investigation.”

Russia has expelled 59 diplomats from 23 countries and asked Britain to cut “just over 5o” of its diplomatic mission in Russia, reports Reuters.

The UN Security Council has blacklisted 27 ships and 21 shipping companies for aiding North Korea’s efforts to circumvent sanctions, reports the BBC.

The sanctions from the UN’s largest ever package of designated penalties against North Korea.

Colombia’s transitional justice tribunal for rights violations committed by former leaders of the government's military and FARC militants started collecting evidence this month to prepare for its first hearings.

The Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) tribunal, founded under the 2016 peace deal between the government and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) is set to try cases representative of the a litany of rights violations committed during the armed conflict.

The United States last week announced that it was imposing sanctions on Pakistani companies for alleged links to nuclear trade, reports Voice of America.

A statement released by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said,

At least twenty one counrtues have aligned with Britain resulting in the expulsion of over 100 Russian officials reports the BBC.

The President of the United States Donald Trump confirmed that it would expel 60 Russian diplomats, alongside governments across Europe who are taking action against Russia for a chemical attack on a former Russian spy in Britain.

Protesters in Catalonia clashed with police last night after the Catalan leader, Carles Puigdemont was arrested in Germany. 

A European arrest warrant against Mr Puigdemont was ordered and reissued last week by Spain for sedition and rebellion. 

Mr Puigdemont was crossing through Germany on his way from Denmark to Belgium. 

He has been living away from Spain since shortly after the Catalonian parliament declared independence in October 2017. 

Bangladesh observed a nationwide one-minute blackout on Sunday to mark Bengali Genocide Remembrance Day.

The blackout was observed for the first time this year after Bangladesh’s parliament passed a motion in 2017 declaring March 25th to be Genocide Remembrance Day, marking the genocide of ethnic Bengalis by Pakistani military forces and supporting militias in 1971, in what was then West Pakistan.

Pro-independence protesters in Catalonia clashed with police on Friday night after Spain's Supreme Court ruled that independence leaders should be tried for rebellion, disobeying the state and embezzlement. 

The Court also ordered a further five Catalan leaders to be detained without bail. 

Over twenty protesters are reported to be injured in the clashes with police. 
 

The United States on Friday threatened extradition and prosecutions after sanctioning nine Iranians and an Iranian company for attempting to hack into hundreds of universities worldwide, firms and parts of US governments, reports Reuters.

In a statement released Friday, the US Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said, the nine Iranians were considered fugitives and may face extradition in more than 100 countries if they travel outside Iran.

The Chinese premier Xi Jinping on Tuesday warned Taiwan of receiving the "punishment of history" if the government attempted to push for secession. 

Speaking at China's annual session of parliament, Xi said, "it is a shared aspiration of all Chinese people and in their basic interests to safeguard China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and realise China’s complete reunification."

Vladimir Putin won his fourth term as president in Russia's election this weekend, securing over 76% of the vote. 

The victory paves the way for a six year term as Russia's president. 

Opposition activists have however alleged vote rigging and statistical anomalies in election results at a number of polling stations. 

Turn out on Sunday was over 67% according the state's election commission.