The two contenders of the Afghan presidential election have signed a deal to form a unity government.

The deal will see Ashraf Ghani become president and runner-up Abdullah Abdullah nominating a chief executive, with powers similar to a prime minister.

Mr Ghani and Mr Abdullah had accused each other of fraud after the elections earlier this year, but the deal, reached in August averted potential violence.

The US hailed the deal as an "important opportunity for unity".

The truce in eastern Ukraine between Ukrainian troops and separatist rebels exists “in name only”, according to a senior Nato military commander.

Gen Philip Breedlove said the situation in the region was “not good”.

"The number of events, and the number of rounds fired and the artillery used across the past few days match some of the pre-ceasefire levels. The ceasefire is still there in name, but what is happening on the ground is quite a different story," he added.

The general however added that he was hopeful about a new ceasefire deal reached on Saturday.

Ukraine accuses Russia of arming and supporting separatists, something Moscow denies. The first truce signed earlier this month was violated repeatedly before Saturday’s renewed agreement.

Turkish hostages captured by Islamic State in Iraq several months ago have arrived in Turkey on Saturday, after a covert operation to free them, according to Istanbul.

The 49 hostages, including diplomats and their families, were captured by the militants in June in the Iraqi city of Mosul, which was overrun by Islamic State fighters.

The International Criminal Court in The Hague has summoned Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta for a tribunal in early October.

The judges at the court intend to question the president over claims that the Kenyan government withheld documents previously requested by prosecutors, in relation to his trial for crimes against humanity.

Earlier this month, Kenyatta’s trial was delayed indefinitely by prosecutors after they complained of a lack of evidence due to obstruction by the Kenyan government.

“Far too many refugees and migrants are dying all across the world in an effort to flee conflict, systematic political oppression and human rights violations, including economic deprivation. These root causes in their countries of origin must be tackled in a concerted manner,” Zeid said.

More than 66,000 Kurdish refugees have fled from Syria into Turkey in the last 24 hours said Turkish officials, as militants from the Islamic State (IS) advanced on the Kurdish enclave of Kobani in Syria.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus told reporters on Saturday "as of today, the number of Syrian Kurds who entered Turkey has exceeded 60,000" after Turkey opened the border for refugees on Friday.