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Afghan voters at a polling centre in the capital, Kabul, on 5 April 2014.

South Sudan’s government expects a “significant improvement” in peace negotiations with the rebels, following the release of political detainees accused of plotting to overthrow President Salva Kiir’s government, according to presidential spokesperson Ateny Wek Ateny.

Special Coordinator of the Joint Mission of the OPCW and the UN Sigrid Kaag (second left) inspecting preparations for the elemination of chemical weapons at the Syrian Port of Latakia in December 2013.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on all parties to seek a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis, warning that the situation could “spin out of control quickly,” while the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced that is opening a preliminary probe into alleged crimes of humanity committed in the country.

President Barack Obama is warning of a "firm response" should North Korea go ahead with a fourth nuclear test that some analysts and officials say could take place in the coming days.

The United States has accused Russia of orchestrating armed resistance in eastern Ukraine. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry Thursday warned Moscow of crippling economic sanctions if it fails to adhere to commitments it made earlier this month in Geneva. Russia has begun military exercises close to its border with Ukraine and says it is ready to step in to defend pro-Russian separatists.

The head of the European Union's delegation to Russia has cast doubt on the effectiveness of last week's mutiparty agreement to reduce tensions in Ukraine. Vygaudas Usackas spoke to reporters about EU-Russia relations as Ukraine called on Russia to explain its military drills near their border.

President Barack Obama has reassured Japan that the U.S. will abide by its commitment to help defend the country if China seizes a disputed group of islands, but made clear that he is not setting a red line that would result in the U.S. attacking Chinese forces.

President Barack Obama said Russia is not abiding by the Geneva agreement to ease the crisis in Ukraine, and he is not hopeful the Russians will carry out the deal.

The United States has deported about 2 million illegal immigrants in the five years since President Barack Obama took office. Some Americans say the administration is too aggressive in enforcing immigration law, while others say it's not aggressive enough.