The US fired Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian military base on Friday in response to the chemical weapon attack over Idlib province earlier this week. 

The US Department of Defense said the air strike was "in retaliation for the Assad regime using nerve agents against its people."

The third suspected chemical attack was reported to have been carried out in Syria on Tuesday over the province of Idlib, killing at least over 50 people, including children. 

The US has accused the Assad government of carrying out this attack, however, the military has denied this. 

"We deny completely the use of any chemical or toxic material in Khan Sheikhoun town today and the army has not used nor will use in any place or time neither in past or in future," the Syrian army said in a statement.

The Scottish parliament on Tuesday voted in favour of holding a second referendum on independence, thereby endorsing the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon. 

The vote, which was won by 69 to 59 votes, translates into a formal request to Westminster to grant Holyrood powers to hold a referendum under a section 30 order. 

It shortly after a meeting between Ms Sturgeon and the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, on Monday in Glasgow, where Ms May reiterated that "now is not the time" for such a referendum. 

Ms May had earlier this month rejected such a proposal, stating that it would not be appropriate until the Brexit process was over. 

The Basque separatist organisation, Eta on Friday announced its plans to lay down arms and reveal stockpiles of weapons, reported Le Monde. 

In 2011 Eta renounced its armed struggle for independence of a Basque homeland spanning across Northern Spain and Southern France. 

Eta plans to complete the disarmament by April 8, ahead of the first round of the French presidential election. 

The Spanish government reacted to the news with caution. 

The First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon criticised the British prime minister's rejection of a second independence referendum, stating that denying Scots a chance to decide on their future post-Brexit would be contrary to May's promise to work for all the people of the UK. 

“If the Prime Minister refuses to engage on the terms of a referendum before Brexit takes place then she is effectively trying to block the people of Scotland having a choice over their future. That would be a democratic outrage," Ms Sturgeon said. 

The UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Myanmar said the Rohingya Muslims were facing "crimes against humanity" by the Burmese people, security forces and police. 

In an interview to BBC Newsnight this week, Yanghee Lee said "I would say crimes against humanity. Definite crimes against humanity... by the Burmese, Myanmar military, the border guards or the police or security forces."

Stating that such abuse was "systemic" within the Myanmar forces, Ms Lee said that the government lef by Aung San Suu Kyi must also be held responsible. 

China's Premier, Li Keqiang this month reiterated that Beijing would firmly oppose any moves towards independence in Taiwan and Hong Kong. 

“We will resolutely oppose and contain separatist activities for Taiwan independence,” Mr Li was quoted by Today Online as saying in a speech at the annual session of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC).

“We will never tolerate any activity, in any form or name, which attempts to separate Taiwan from the motherland,” he added. 

Asked about the issue of Hong Kong independence, Mr Li was quick to dismiss it outright, stating, “the notion of Hong Kong independence will lead nowhere." 

A Rwandan man who moved to the US was last week convicted of immigration fraud for lying about his role in the Rwandan genocide, the Jurist reported. 

The prosecution said Gervais Ngombwa was the leader of a Hutu party responsible for massacring Tutsis during the 1994 genocide. 

He was sentenced to 15 years followed by deportation to Rwanda where he will stand trial for genocide. 

The Irish nationalist party, Sinn Féin made substantial gains in Northern Ireland's snap election this week, leaving the pro-union DUP with only a one seat advantage. 

In elections which saw the highest voter turn out since the initial, elections after the 1998 Good Friday agreement, Sinn Fein won 27 of the 90 seats, whilst DUP won 28. 

Previously the DUP had a 10 seat advantage over Sinn Féin. 

The elections were called after the power sharing agreement fell apart last month. Sinn Féin and DUP have three weeks to form a government to avoid direct rule from Westminster. 
 

The massacre committed in 2014 against the village of Mutarule, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has been acknowledged to be a crime against humanity.

However, none of the defendants were convicted for crimes against humanity.