Airstrikes in Idlib, in northwest Syria, conducted by the Russian government have resulted in the deaths of at least 22 civilians including many children.

The airstrikes have caused a mass exodus as civilians are fleeing towards internally displaced people (IDP) camps set up near the Turkish border. 

"The sound of barrel bombs has not stopped all day," said a White Helmets volunteer. "Bombardment was targeting civilians fleeing from towns and villages near the main highway... This is a vicious and systematic bombing camping to force people out of the northern region."

<p>The former president of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf was sentenced to death by Pakistani courts today, accused of committing treason.&nbsp;</p> <p>He came to international prominence when he seized power in a 1999 coup and was head of state from 2001 to 2008. The sentence is in relation to his 2007 suspension of the constitution, as he stated that the country was in a state of emergency. This is a first for Pakistan.&nbsp;</p> <p>The former president&nbsp;is currently residing in Dubai and the penalty is therefore unlikely to be carried out.</p>

<p>The UN human rights office has called India’s new citizenship law ‘fundamentally discriminatory’ as it excludes citizenship for certain religious minorities.</p> <p>In a<a href="https://twitter.com/UNHumanRights/status/1205451656495861761"><u> tweet</u></a>, the UN human rights office wrote:</p> <p>“India: We are concerned that the new Citizenship Amendment Act is fundamentally discriminatory in nature. Goal of protecting persecuted groups is welcomed, but new law does not extend protection to Muslims, including minority sects.”</p>

After gaining a landmark majority of in the UK general election, the Conservative government is to introduce an anti-BDS (Boycott Divest and Sanction) bill which would make it illegal for any public body to work with organisations that boycott, divest or sanction Israel in any way.

UK Special Envoy for post-Holocaust issues, Erik Pickles, announced the bill whilst speaking in Jerusalem on Sunday. He further claimed that “BDS is antisemitic and should be treated as such”. This measure would prevent local Labour party councils from supporting groups which boycott Israel.

<p>Protests have erupted throughout India in response to a controversial citizenship bill which would grant persecuted religious minorities from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, a pathway to citizenship.&nbsp;</p> <p>In the east of India, dozens of buses were set on fire and vandalised in at least six railway stations on Saturday. In West Bengal, 15 buses were burned. Peaceful protests were also held at Utter Pradesh by the students of the&nbsp; Aligarh Muslim University.&nbsp;</p> <p>India’s police responded to student protests in Utter Pradesh by using tear gas and batons.</p>

The United States will implement visa restrictions against South Sudan leaders who “undermine or impede the peace process” in the country, the Secretary of State has said.

The restrictions would apply to individuals and family members of individuals deemed to be: violating a ceasefire or cessation of hostilities agreement; violating the UN arms embargo; engaging in corruption that fuels the conflict; suppressing freedoms of expression, association, peaceful assembly, or other abuses or violations; or failing to abide by signed peace agreements.

<p>Boris Johnson has pledged to repay the trust of all those that voted for him after he was re-elected Prime Minister of Britain, with the Conservative Party winning a heavy majority in the UK’s General Election.</p> <p>“I, and we, will never take your support for granted,” said Johnson in his victory speech. “I will make it my mission to work night and day, to work flat-out to prove you right in voting for me this time, and to earn your support in the future.”</p> <p>The Conservative Party won 364 seats to the Labour Party’s 203, giving them the biggest Conservative majority since the 1980s, added Johnson.</p>

The performance of the Scottish National Party (SNP) in Britain’s General Election has sent a "clear message" on a second independence referendum, said leader Nicola Sturgeon, after the party made wide gains across Scotland.

The SNP won 48 seats with 45% of the vote, thirteen seats more than it did in 2017. Amongst the key victories was the unseating of Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson in East Dunbartonshire.

Sturgeon said the results were a "clear endorsement Scotland should get to decide our future and not have it decided for us".

"The results across the rest of the UK are grim but underlines the importance of Scotland having a choice,” she added.

<p>A joint statement by a group of human rights organisations, including Human Rights Watch, International Centre for Transitional Justice, and the Kenya Human Rights Commission, condemns the Kenyan National Assembly for blocking justice and reparations for victims of human rights abuses.</p> <p>In 2007 Kenya’s transitional justice project began after presidential violence claimed the lives of at least 1,133 people. During this violence there were reported acts of sexual violence, destruction of property and thousands were displaced.&nbsp;</p> <p>Agnes Odhiambo, senior Africa women’s rights researcher for Human Rights Watch reported;</p>

As voting closed in the United Kingdom today, exit polls predict a Conservative Party majority in the 2019 General Election. 

Votes are currently being counted across Britain with results being declared throughout the night.

All of the country’s major parties have campaigned for British Tamil votes this election, with Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader Boris Johnson releasing a video message praising the Tamil community in the early hours of the morning. “I want to thank the Tamil community for everything they do for our country,” he said.