Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that her government will oppose any attempt by the British government to scrap the Human Rights Act in Scotland.

Ms Sturgeon criticised the newly-elected Conservative government's plan to implement previous plans of abolishing the Human Rights Act and replace it with a new British Bill of Rights.

"I oppose the repeal of the Human Rights Act, I think it's an appalling thing to be doing,

"Human rights are there to protect all of us, for example it was the Human Rights Act that enabled people to go to court to object against the bedroom tax," she said in Edinburgh.

The Holy See has formulated its first treaty which recognises the State of Palestine, in an agreement dealing with Catholic activities in areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority.

A joint statement released by the Vatican on Wednesday said the text of the treaty had been concluded and would be officially signed by the respective authorities "in the near future".

The agreement "aims to enhance the life and activities of the Catholic Church and its recognition at the judicial level", said Monsignor Antoine Camilleri, the Vatican's deputy foreign minister who led its delegation in the talks.

The UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator welcomed a humanitarian ceasefire that had been established in Yemen to allow for aid relief to reach the civilian population.

Valerie Amos, in a statement made after the ceasefire was announced, said,

“I call on all parties to the conflict to respect the vital pause in hostilities. This pause will provide respite for civilians and allow the delivery food, medical supplies and other essential items to people who have been trapped in conflict zones.”

Burundi’s military declared a coup against the current president Pierre Nkurunziza, following weeks of clashes between police and demonstrators protesting the president’s decision to run for a 3rd term in presidency.

The military Major General Godefroid Niyombare, in a press statement said,

“President Pierre Nkurunziza is removed from office, the government is dissolved. All people are asked to respect the lives and property of others.”

A manufacturing company, SodaStream, announced that it was ahead of schedule in procedures to move out of occupied territory in the West Bank.

SodaStraem, which produces carbonation products, came under pressure from the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, for manufacturing products in occupied Palestinian territory, reports Haaretz.

The CEO of the company, Daniel Birbaum, outlining the companies reduction of manufacturing in the West Bank said,

US officials told the United Nations Human Rights Council that the country had much to improve with regards to upholding civil rights laws.

Speaking at the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the US, a US justice department official, James Cadogan, told the council,

“We must rededicate ourselves to ensuring that our civil rights laws live up to their promise.”
The US, during its review, faced criticism for lack in progress in ending the death penalty and closing down Guantanamo Bay.

The Conservative party confirmed that it would implement previous plans of abolishing the Human Rights act and replace it with a new British Bill of Rights.

The Human Rights Act incorporates the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) into UK law, and was brought in to legislation in 2011.