Al-Jazeera's English news channel closed after the Chinese government expelled a correspondent, refusing to renew her press credentials.

Melissa Chan, an American citizen and political journalist, left China on Monday night.

According to Al-Jazeera, the government has refused to allow a replacement correspondent too, however, the channel's Arabic service remains unaffected.

Hong Lei, a spokesperson at China's Foreign Ministry, said,

Ukrainian officials announced that Friday's summit of EU state leaders would be postponed, after a widespread boycott by leaders across Europe in protest at the treatment of Ukraine's opposition leader, Yulia Tymoshenko.

Thirteen leaders across the EU have pulled out including from Germany, the Czech Republic and Italy.

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Pressure increases on Ukraine over Euro 2012 boycott (03 May 2012)

Official figures obtained by the Yorkshire Post show that the UK Border Agency has recommended ‘adverse immigration action’ against 207 individuals in Britain, suspected of committing war crimes in their native countries.

Individuals from countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, Rwanda, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe are accused of torture, genocide and crimes against humanity.

Last year the UK repealed a law, allowing private individuals to initiate prosecution against foreign war crimes suspects. It is unknown whether police are investigating any of the suspects.

Turkey has confirmed it will not be arresting or extraditing Iraq’s Vice-President Tariq al-Hashemi.

The Turkish deputy prime minister said al-Hashemi was in Turkey for medical treatment and the government would not hand over someone it had supported.

Interpol issued an international red notice for Mr Hashemi’s arrest, who is accused of running death squads targeting Shia officials, on Monday, following a request from the Iraqi government.

Human Rights Watch has stated that the Syrian military is guilty of war crimes committed during a two-week offensive, whilst the UN special envoy Kofi Annan was negotiating with the Syrian government in early April. 

Stating that the intensity of the conflict in Syria has reached that of an “armed conflict under international law”, the New York-based NGO, has said that international humanitarian law was applicable in the country, with any violations being classified as war crimes.

After meeting with India’s Minister for External Affairs S M Krishna, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has praised the country for cutting down on its crude oil imports from Iran.

Commenting on steps taken by Indian refineries to seek other sources of crude oil other than from Iran, currently India’s second largest supplier, were commended by Clinton, as Iran becomes increasingly targeted by sanctions over its nuclear programme. India is also currently Iran’s second largest customer of crude oil.

A South African court has ordered prosecutors to investigate Zimbabwean officials accused of torturing opposition figures in 2007.

The judge said South Africa has a duty under international law to investigate crimes against humanity.

Prosecutors and the police previously refused to investigate Zimbabwean officials travelling to South Africa, citing ‘political considerations’.

The RAF (Royal Air Force) is to use a Russian base in the transfer of military hardware from Afghanistan as British soldiers pull out, reported The Times.

The military hardware, estimated to cost billions of UK pounds and including 3000 vehicles, aircraft parts, rocket launchers, engines for Tornado bombers and body army, will be transported via cargo planes from Helmand province to the Russian base in Ulyanovsk on the Volga.

The Eurozone's austerity measures came under scrunity this weekend as markets reacted to elections in France and Greece.

In France, the socialist François Hollande who campaigned pledging to re-negotiate the austerity measures and stimulate economic growth, was elected to succeed Nicholas Sarkozy. Following his victory, Hollande said, “Austerity need not be Europe’s fate.”

Germany's chancellor Angela Merkel responded promptly, insisting that the fiscal pact, endorsed by out-going President Sarkozy was "not negotiable".

Vladimir Putin was inaugurated as President of Russia for the third time on Monday, as anti-Putin protesters took to the streets of Moscow.

Riot police arrested anyone wearing white ribbons, a symbol of anti-Putin activists, as they raided nearby cafes and restaurants in search of protesters.

On Sunday a large scale protest march, dubbed the "March of the Millions", ended in violence as riot police used tear gas and baton police to curtail protesters.