The US Secretary of State John Kerry pledged US help to find and return the hundreds of Nigerian girls that were kidnapped by militants two weeks ago, reports the Washington Post.

“The kidnapping of hundreds of children by Boko Haram is an unconscionable crime. We will do everything possible to support the Nigerian government to return these young women to their homes and hold the perpetrators to justice.”

Ukraine’s government today stated that it was now ‘at war’ with pro-Russian insurgents, as the commencement of Ukraine’s ‘anti-terrorism’ measures escalated violence in the rebel held eastern regions, reports The Telegraph.

The head of Ukraine’s anti-terrorist command, Vasyl Krutov, said,

“What we are facing in the Donetsk region and in the eastern regions is not just some kind of short-lived uprising – it is in fact a war.”

The recently deployed EU peacekeeping force in Central African Republic set restoring regional stability as its top priority, reports Reuters.

“The objective that we are looking for, and which I think we share with most of the international community, is to make it so each citizen of Central African Republic, whatever their communal background, can see a positive future,” said the EU force commander, Philippe Ponties at a news conference in CAR yesterday.

A car bomb attack on Thursday evening has killed at least 12 people in the Nigerian capital Abuja, reports the BBC.

No organisation has claimed responsibility for the attacks  however, it is suspected that the militant group Boko Haram who are responsible for the bombings on 14 April are likely to be responsible for today’s attacks.

Several pro-Russian rebels have been killed, injured and arrested in an Ukrainian offensive in the eastern city of Sloviansk, reports the BBC.

Rebels earlier shot down armed Ukrainian helicopters, that flew over the eastern rebel held region.

A spokesperson for Russian president, Vladimir Putin, said that Kiev had fired on civilians from air in a ‘punitive operation,’ reported Reuters.

The Ukrainian president said that the fight against rebel forces was ‘greatly complicated’ due to the high civilian population density in the areas.

The Philippines today announced that it would supply the US with up to 5 military bases in Subic bay as part of defence agreement renewals made by the two states this week.

An access deal signed by the two parties allows the US to rotate a greater number of aircraft, ships and troops in territory held by the Philippines, including Subic bay, reports Reuters.

The US president, Barack Obama earlier this week that the pact was intended to increase build Philippine capacity and ensure maritime peace and security.

A bomb exploded at Chennai Central railway station at 7.15 am this morning, killing one woman, and injuring many others on board the train.

Blasts arose from two carriages of the Bangalore-Guwahati express train, which had arrived at platform 9 ten minutes earlier, witnesses have reported.

One man, who was on board the train, has been detained for questioning, said police.

The woman killed has been identified as 22 year old Swati from Guntur. It is believed a bomb was located under her seat.

The United States secretary of state John Kerry, warning that a genocide could ensue in South Sudan, threatened leaders of the opposing factions with sanctions, reports The Guardian.

Speaking in Ethiopia at the start of his six-day tour of Africa, Kerry said,

The Colombian government deployed tanks and troops on farmers that were striking in attempts to choke food supplies ahead of presidential elections due to take place at the end of May.

Farmers took to the street for the second time this year due to President Juan Manuel Santos’ failure to fulfil promises of rural reform, reports The Guardian.

Anticipating severe disruption, the government sent in tanks and troops to placate what was mostly a peaceful demonstration. 

The United Nations Security Council, Tuesday, renewed its peacekeeping MINURSO mission in the North African territory of Western Sahara for another year, reports Reuters.

An unanimously adopted resolution stressed ‘the importance of improving the human rights situation in Western Sahara and the Tindouf camps, whilst encouraging the parties to work wit he international community to develop and implement independent and credible measures to ensure full respect for human rights.’