The results of a referendum in Burundi this week, which has been criticised by the US, potentially grants current President Pierre Nkurunziza the power to stay in office until 2034.

The country’s election chief reported that 73 percent has voted in favour for extending the presidential term from five years, to seven. Pierre Claver Ndyaicariye, commission chairman has said that 96 percent of the 4.7 million registered to vote, has voted in this referendum.

The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pledged deeper security and economic support to Georgia, whilst calling on Russia to withdraw its forces from the regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in accordance to a 2008 ceasefire agreement.

“The United States unequivocally condemns Russia’s occupation on Georgian soil. Russia’s forcible invasion of Georgia is a clear violation of international peace and security,” said the Secretary of State.

The US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs passed legislation last week to hold Myanmar’s military accountable and target their economic interests with sanctions.

The Burma Unified through Rigorous Military Accountability Act of 2018 (BURMA Act) imposes targeted sanctions and travel restrictions on senior Myanmar military officials responsible for human rights abuses against the Rohingya people.

The Taliban launched an attack on the capital of the western Afghan province of Farah, briefly overrunning the city.

At least 25 members of the Afghan security forces were killed in the attack on Tuesday.

Afghan provincial official Fared Bakhtawer said "security checkpoints around the city have collapsed into the hands of the Taliban, causing high casualties among security forces."

Though the Taliban have now left the city, a spokesperson said that “without any disturbance, the mujahideen withdrew to their safe positions,” according to Reuters. Afghan security officials claimed to have killed hundreds of fighters.

Turkey’s government ordered Israeli ambassador, Etan Naeh to leave the country in response to Israel’s killing of Palestinian protestors in the Gaza strip yesterday.

The ambassador was told by Turkey’s foreign minister that it would be “appropriate” if he returned to Israel “for a while” reports the Washington Post.

Israel responded by asking Turkey’s ambassador to Israel to also return to Turkey.

On June 20^th war crimes judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) will discuss whether to launch investigation into the forced exodus of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar. The decision was made after chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, asked the court whether deportations could be investigated as a crime against humanity.

"The chamber convenes a status conference on 20 June 2018, to be held in closed session, only in the presence of the prosecutor," ruled Judge Peter Kovacs on Friday.

Catalan parliament has completed negotiations within parties to allow for the selection of a pro-independence candidate to assume presidency of Catalan parliament and end the emergency direct rule imposed by Madrid.

The Catalan regional parliament is set to elect Quim Torra with a simple majority after the far left pro-independence Popular Unity Candidacy (cup) agreed to not block the vote.  

Mr Torra was handpicked by the exiled Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, who faces jail on rebellion charges if he returns to Spain from Germany.

In the bloodiest single day for Palestinians since 2014, 55 protestors were killed with over 2,700 injured by live gunfire reports Reuters.

The Palestinian Authority said that at least 1,100 of those injuries were lower limb gunshot wounds.

Thousands of Palestinians protested at the border between Gaza and Israel to mark Israel’s 70^th anniversary.  As the protests swelled, Israeli forces opened fire and sprayed tear gas.

Myanmar’s troops and government aligned paramilitaries have clashed with fighters from the Ta’ang National Liberation Army in the north of the country, leaving at least 15 people dead.

“Fighting took place since 5am this morning at three places: two military bases in Muse and one near a bridge on the way to Lashio town,” TNLA spokesman Major Mai Aik Kyaw told AFP.

Fatou Bensouda, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), stated that the Libyan government has yet to arrest and surrender Mustafa Busayf Al-Werfalli – a Major in the Libyan National Army who was charged with committing war crimes.

“ICC suspects who are indicted with charges of grave crimes under the Rome Statute cannot be sheltered or given refuge. They must be apprehended and face justice before the Court so that their guilt or innocence can be established,” stated Bensouda in her brief to the UN Security Council.