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 Russians and Chinese have placed a hold on proposed designations. We don’t know whether it’s dead or if their concerns can be dealt with,” a diplomat form the UN Security Council who wishes to remain unnamed told Reuters yesterday.

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.

“The Armenian genocide is alive as far as the successor of the Ottoman Turkey continues its policy of utter denial. The denial of the crime constitutes the direct continuation of that very crime. Only recognition and condemnation can prevent the repetition of such crimes in the future,” said Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) today, singed a unity pact with Hamas, which looks to form a united government within five weeks of national elections in 6 months time, reports Reuters.  

The unity deal is thought to have a damaging impact in the already failing US sponsored peace-talks between Palestine and Israel, reports the BBC.

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.

The statement further condemned the use of local radio stations to broadcast hate speech against ethnic groups in the region.

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.

“We will never give up on the option of reaching an agreement with Madird. But at the moment such an agreement is very unlikely. They are saying no to almost everything (we have asked for)”, said President Artur Mas.

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 fact that we have a stake in the success of the government and the reform efforts doesn’t mean that we pull punches. The crux of my message was: the whole world is watching.”

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,

“Calling for a de-facto referendum rings especially hollow now as the regime continues to massacre the very electorate it purports to represent.”