Russian state media said today, that people in Criema voted overwhelmingly to separate from Ukraine and join Russia today.

RIA news agency said that 93 percent backed the separation as the voting polls closed at 1800 GMT. The turnout was also recorded as 80 percent by the Russian monitoring agency.

Commenting on the results, the US Secretary of state John Kerry, told Moscow that Washington would not accept the outcome of the vote.

Russian president, Vladmir Putin, rejected calls by the west that the referendum had been called for illegally.

A court in France has sentenced former Rwandan intelligence chief to 25 years in prison for his role in the genocide, in a landmark trial on Friday.

In France’s first trial over the genocide, 54-year-old Pascal Simbikangwa was found guilty of genocide and complicity to crimes against humanity.

The prosecution described him as a "genocide denier" adding he believed in "extremist Hutu ideology", in the 6 week trial.

The former Labour MP and Cabinet Minister Tony Benn has passed away at his home in London at the age of 88.

The veteran left-wing campaigner was an outspoken activist and became the president of the Stop the War Coalition in 2001.

Tony Benn pictured at Parliament Square on May 23, 2009 (Picture: peacestrike.org)

Israel's Foreign Minister, Avigdor Liberman asserted that Israel should reoccupy the Gaza strip, citing reports that 41 rockets were fired from the Palestinian territory into Southern Israel.

"We need to reoccupy Gaza," said Liberman in an interview to Channel 2 television.

A commission appointed by Myanmar's government rejected the finding of a UN report that alleged systematic killings by security forces, and instead concluded there was no evidence that 40 Rohingyas were killed during attacks that took place in January, reported VoA.

Commission member, Yin Yin Nwe said,

Quebec's Premier, Pauline Marois said an independence Quebec would not have borders or tolls with Canada, speaking at an electoral campaign event.

Ms Marois, who leads the pro-independence, Parti Quebecois, said that Canadians would be able to travel freely in and out of an independent Quebec.

"We could continue to go see the Rockies in the West... go to Prince Edward Island and [the rest of Canada] could continue to come visit us," said Ms. Marois speaking to CBC news, stressing, "There will be no borders and no tolls."

A recent report released by Amnesty international, found that the Syrian government was using starvation tactics against displaced civilians.

The report highlighted at least 128 refugees deaths due to starvation in the Yarmouk displacement camp. 

Commenting on the struggles faced by the displaced Syrians, Amnesty’s Middle East director, Philip Luther, stressed,

Leaders of a United Nations investigation of human rights abuses in Central African Republic further outlined their intention to extend their investigation to look into “reports of genocide” as they launched a probe Monday.

Expressing concern over hate propaganda used by ethnic communities in the conflict, the chair of the investigation, Bernard Acho Muna, said,