Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta will have to appear at a hearing next week, after the International Criminal Court rejected his request to postpone it or appear via video link.

"The chamber, by majority, finds that the requirements of justice in this case necessitate the physical presence of the accused in court," the ICC said in a statement.

Judges at the court added that the matters to be discussed on October 8 were at a critical stage and directly involve the interest of the accused and the victims.

Mexico has charged three of its troops with murder, after a shootout in June, which left 22 suspected gang members dead.

Attorney General Jesus Murillo said the soldiers shot the men "without any justification whatsoever".

The victims are alleged to be members of a notorious criminal organisation called La Familia Michoacana and the army at the time said the men died in a fire fight.

However, some the victims appeared to have bullet wounds in the chest, inconsistent with a shootout.

"the creation of my special rapporteur’s mandate has increased international awareness about the large-scale violations of human rights in Eritrea.”

The new Afghan government has signed a deal with the United States to keep troops in the country.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani welcomed the Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA), saying his country has “regained its sovereignty as a power."

US President Barack Obama said it was a "historic day" in US-Afghan relations.

"We look forward to working with this new government to cement an enduring partnership that strengthens Afghan sovereignty, stability, unity, and prosperity," he added.

The Spanish government has asked its constitutional court to declare the independence referendum planned in Catalonia as illegal.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said the vote was not "compatible with the Spanish constitution".
Rajoy said "Nobody and nothing will be allowed to break up Spain”, during a televised address to the nation on Monday.