India has rejected Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s four-step “peace initiative” proposed at the UN General Assembly. The plan sought to formalize a ceasefire in Kashmir and move towards demilitarizing the region.

Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj told the General Assembly on Thursday, “we don’t need four points, we just need one: Give up terrorism and let us sit down and talk.” Earlier in a tweet on Wednesday, the spokesman for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Vikas Swarup, similarly said, “To de-militarize Kashmir is not the answer, to de-terrorize Pakistan is.”

On Thursday Spain’s parliament approved measures that permit the Constitutional Court to fine or suspend authorities that fail to carry out its sentences. This was reportedly done to address any officials in Catalonia that seek to ignore the orders from earlier this year finding that a referendum on independence is unconstitutional.

The move comes shortly after secessionist parties in Catalonia secured a majority in local parliament on Sunday.

Addressing the UN General Assembly’s 70th session, the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon called for the ongoing crisis in Syria to be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“It is time now for others, primarily the Security Council and key regional actors, to step forward," Mr Ban said.

“Five countries in particular hold the key: the Russian Federation, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Turkey.  But as long as one side will not compromise with the other, it is futile to expect change on the ground.”

A man accused of taking part in the war crime of destroying religious monuments, during civil strife in Mali, has arrived in The Hague to stand trial at the International Criminal Court.

Ahmad al-Mahdi al-Faqi is charged with the destruction of nine mausoleums and a mosque in Timbuktu in 2012.

In a statement released on Saturday, the ICC said it was the first case to be brought before the court "concerning the destruction of buildings dedicated to religion and historical monuments".

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has called for coordination in the fight against the Islamic State, while reiterating his support for Syria's beleaguered president, Bashar al-Assad.

In an interview with the US TV station CBS, Mr Putin said Syria's troops were "the only legitimate conventional army there". He said that they were fighting terrorist organisations and Russia "would be pleased to find common ground for joint action against the terrorists".

Pro-independence parties won a clear majority in Catalonia's parliamentary elections on Sunday.

"Catalans have voted yes to independence [from Spain]," acting regional government head Artur Mas told supporters adding that a "democratic mandate" now existed to move forward with independence.

The regional election has been anticipated by observers as a de facto referendum on independence.