United Nations / AFP The next United Nations secretary general must commit to a new global deal for refugees and to end the death penalty during his or her tenure, the world’s leading human rights groups said on Monday. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and four other groups also said the next UN chief should be prepared to invoke the …

Kollam / AFP Indian police said on Monday they have filed initial charges against six people over a massive explosion during a banned fireworks display that killed more than 100 people and left many more with horrific burns. Thousands had packed into a Hindu temple in the southern state of Kerala on Saturday night for the show when a stray …

El-Fasher/ AFP The war-scarred Sudanese region of Darfur voted on Monday in a referendum on its future status despite international criticism and a boycott by rebel groups. Despite ongoing unrest in areas, President Omar Al-Bashir—wanted on war crimes charges related to the 13-year conflict—has insisted voting go ahead on whether to unite Darfur’s five states into a single region or …