In a report released this week, Human Rights Watch confirmed that at least 18 Israeli airstrikes, during the Israel-Gaza conflict in November 2012, were in violation of international law.

A detailed investigation into the attacks revealed that 14 of the attacks on Gaza had no indication of legitimate military targeting, whilst the remaining 4 strikes, which targeted legitimate military targets, were indiscriminate and caused a higher proportion of civilian casualties.

A district court in Oslo, Norway has convicted a Rwandan man for his part in the 1994 genocide and sentenced him to 21 years in prison.

Sadi Bugingo, a 47 year old man living in Norway, was found guilty of complicity in premeditated killings of at least 20,000 Tutsis. The court focussed on three attacks that occurred in Bugingo's home town of Kibungo in April 1994.

Judge Jonas Petter Madsoe said:

Sixteen-year-old Hussein Ali Ahmed was shot dead during clashes with Bahrain's security forces on Thursday, two years on from the start of the pro-democracy uprising in the Kingdom.

The incident occured in the village of Diya, near the capital Manama, where security forces were firing teargas, rubber bullets and birdshot at demonstrators.

Dozens of others were also injured.

Zimbabwe's important referendum on a new constitution said to be a major step towards democratic reform, has been "tentatively" set for 16th March.

The referendum is expected to be followed by elections were both the current president Robert Mugabe, and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai would run.

Although the details of the new constitution are yet to be officially released, it is understood that both Mugabe and Tsvangirai have approved it.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) have accused the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) of failing to protect indigenous women and girls from violence in northern British Columbia, as well as abusive behaviour by the police itself.

HRW interviewed women and girls who described abusive treatment by police officers, including excessive use of force as well as physical and sexual assault.

The former president of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed has taken refuge inside the country's Indian embassy after a local magistrate ordered his arrest.

Riot police barricaded the streets around the embassy as Nasheed's supporters gathered.

A former pro-democracy campaigner, Mr Nasheed was ousted from government by a police and security force mutiny and violent demonstrations.

Tweeting from the diplomatic compound, Mr Nasheed said:

Defying UN resolutions, North Korea conducted its third nuclear test on Tuesday, prompting condemnation from the US, and a call for calm from China.

North Korea stated that this third test had "greater explosive force" that its previous two, conducted in 2006 and 2009, and that this latest device was "miniaturised" and lighter.

The US president Barack Obama condemned the act as "highly provocative", adding:

The Israeli government has given the final approval for the construction of 90 new settler homes in the West Bank, days after the US announced that President Barack Obama would visit Israel.

The announcement by the Israeli Defence Ministry in August of the construction was given final approval by the Civil Administration's planning committee, following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's pledge that 300 new homes would eventually be erected in Beit El for settler families. 

Poll violence in India’s north-eastern state of Assam has left eight people dead after police opened fire on protestors.

Members of the Rabha tribe were protesting against elections, saying they infringed on tribal authority.

Officials claimed polling staff were attacked before the shooting.

The Rabha declared a “people’s curfew” to prevent polling staff from reaching their stations.

To the surprise of all concerned, Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation on Monday, stating that given his age and physical health he "had to recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil the ministry entrusted to me".

Becoming the first pope to resign in over 600 years, the news has shocked the Catholic church.

Speaking in Latin, Pope Benedict XVI said: