The US Secretary of Defense and Britain’s Secretary of State for Defence said their governments would work towards stamping out sexual abuse in United Nations peacekeepers as world leaders meet in London today to discuss peacekeeping efforts.

“Despite their achievements, there are many well-documented incidents of peacekeepers failing to live up to the standards expected of them,” wrote the two secretaries in The Times. 

“We must have a zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation or abuse. Any peacekeeper found guilty must be held accountable.” 

The Syrian government headed by President Assad has been accused of carrying out a chlorine gas attack in the city of Aleppo on Tuesday. 

Monitors on the ground and rescue workers state government helicopter dropped barrel bombs filled with chlorine over the city, injuring over 80 people, including many children. 

A UN inquiry last month concluded the government had twice used chlorine gas previously. 

The Syrian government continues to deny any use of chemical weapons. 

The United States president Barack Obama called on Tuesday for sanctions against North Korea to be fully implemented  after the country fired missiles into the sea to coincide with the G20 summit, reportS Reuters 

Describing North Korea as a threat, Mr Obama said the US has "unwavering" support for its allies, and would not be taking an offensive approach with the country. 

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South Sudan's Transitional Government of National Unity has agreed to the deployment of a 4,000 person regional protection force mandated by the UN Security Council and expressed its willingness to implement a hybrid court to try war crimes. 

The Israeli government is to allow an official visit from the working group of the International Criminal Court, which is currently investigation alleged war crimes committed during the 2014 war with Hamaz in Gaza. 

The decision, which is unprecendented, was announced by the foreign ministry spokesperson on Sunday, The Times of Israel, AFP and Jurist reported. However, it is yet to be confirmed by the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. 

Indigenous communities from across the United States have mobilised on the Standing Rock reservation to protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), as clashes turned violent this weekend. 

Over 3,000 indigenous persons have gathered to protest the $3.8 billion fracked-oil pipeline project since April, with deep environmental concerns expressed by protestors. There are fears that the project will trigger a steep increase in fracking activity while also endangering water supply for the Standing Rock Sioux indigenous community. In addition, they state the DAPL would disturb with sites that are sacred to several indigenous communities.

Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon on Friday launched a "new conversation" on independence, in order for Scotland to "control its own destiny". 

Pointing to polls taken after Brexit which show support for independence had increased since the 2014 referendum, Ms Sturgeon said "and while I take nothing for granted, I suspect support for independence will be even higher if it becomes clear that it is the best, or the only way to protect our interests."

A former Iraqi soldier was last week charged with war crimes in Germany for crimes allegedly committed in 2015 in Iraq. 

The soldier, known as Rami K, came to Germany as an asylum-seeker in 2015. 

He reportedly posed for a photograph carrying the heads of two Islamic State fighters, which was posted on social media.  

“The suspect raised the severed heads of two IS fighters, who had been killed in combat, by the hair into the air," AP quoted the German prosecutors as saying. 
 

The United States and China have agreed a deal to tackle climate change, formally ratifying the Paris agreement, ahead of the G20 summit in Hangzhou. 

“Just as I believe the Paris agreement will ultimately prove to be a turning point for our planet, I believe that history will judge today’s efforts as pivotal,” the US president, Barack Obama said on Saturday at a press conference with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. 

Thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets of Caracas in protest on Thursday rallying in large number against the current president, Nicolas Maduro. 

Demonstraters chanted "this government will fall" as they marched dressed in white and called for a recall referendum. They blamed the current government's socialist policies for the country's deep economic crisis with a widespread shortage of food and rising poverty. 

However, supporters of the president also rallied in large numbers, accusing the opposition of trying to launch a coup.