The South Sudanese Army and rebel forces committed “extraordinary acts of cruelty” and should be prosecuted for war crimes, according to Human Rights Watch.

In a report released today, the New York-based rights group said that both sides have killed civilians and looted property during recent clashes and that some of their acts could amount to crimes against humanity.

Two top leaders within the Khmer Rouge regime were found guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced to life imprisonment by a special tribunal in Cambodia on Thursday.

Now in their 80s, Khieu Samphon, the Khmer Rouge head of state, and Nuon Chea, the regime's ideological head and former deputy secretary of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, were charged with crimes against humanity, genocide, religious persecution, homicide and torture.

See here for judgement being delivered.

The Islamic State (IS) has captured the largest Christian city in Iraq, while edging closer to the border with Kurdistan.

Qaraqosh, home to around 50,000 Christians fell to the militants on Thursday, after Kurdish peshmerga forces withdrew from the city in Nineveh.

Around 200,000 refugees, mostly members of minority communities like the Yazidis and Christians, are reported to be fleeing from the IS advance, according to UN officials.

The chair of the parliamentary select committee on British arms exports, requested details of any military exports that may have been used by the Israeli army during its most recent offensive in Gaza, reports The Guardian.

The Central African Republic’s government stepped down as part of a peace deal to work towards an end of sectarian violence in the region, reports the Associated Press.

The regions interim Prime Minister and his Cabinet resigned on Tuesday as part of a peace agreement reached between the Muslim and Christian militant factions.

The government has been tasked with organising elections to take place early next year.

All food imports form the US, EU, Australia, Canada and Norway were banned by Russia reports The Guardian.

The Russian Prime Minister, speaking to press on Thursday, said that all fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, milk and dairy imports from countries that had placed sanctions on Russia would be banned.

Dmitry Medvedev added that officials were considering a ban on European airlines flying to Asia over Siberia.

Russia is Europe’s second largest market for food and drink.

Confirming the killing of an US general by an Afghan soldier on Tuesday, the US military stressed that it was an isolated incident and would not change US-Afghan military relations. 

Major General Harold Greene was killed by an Afghan soldier, who  opened fire at a military training facility in Kabul, in the latest 'green on blue attack'. He is the most senior US military officer to be killed since 9/11. 

Indirect talks between representatives from Israel and Palestine began in Cairo on Wednesday, reports the BBC.

The talks commenced as a truce between Hamas and Israel entered its second day today. Egyptian mediators plan to move between Palestinian and Israeli delegation in an attempt to formulate a common agreement.

Palestinian Authority Seeks ICC War Crimes Case