North Korea on Friday conducted its 5th and largest nuclear test yet, causing seismic waves measuring 5.0. 

The country said the test had been of a "nuclear warhead that has been standardised to be able to be mounted on strategic ballistic rockets". 

China's foreign minister on Friday reiterated that it was firmly opposed to North Korea' nuclear tests, Reuters reported.  

Japan prime minister condemned the test, stating, "North Korea's nuclear development is becoming a graver threat to Japan's safety and severely undermines the peace and safety of the region and the international community."

A Nepalese Colonel Kumar Lama was this week acquitted of charges of ordering the torture of a Nepalese civilian by the Central Criminal Court in London. 

Mr Lama was arrested in 2013 while in the UK on leave from his posting as a UN peacekeeper in South Sudan and charged under s. 134(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 in the UK. This section permits the prosecution in the UK to bring charges against any "public official or person in an official capacity" of any nationality, who commits the offence of torture anywhere in the world, during the course of performing his or her official duties. 

Israeli and Palestinian leaders have agreed "in principle" to resume peace talks in Moscow, the Russian foreign minister spokesperson, Maria Zakharova was reported by the Associated Press as saying on Thursday. 

No date has been set for the agreed meeting. “The most important thing is to pick the right timing,” Ms Zakharova said, adding "intensive contacts on this are ongoing." 

The last public meeting between the two leaders, Mr Netanyahu and Mr Abbas was in 2010. 

Hundreds of Buddhists in Myanmar protested on Tuesday against the arrival of the former UN chief, Kofi Annan who arrived on a visit to investigate the ethnic violence targetting Rohingya Muslims in the state of Rakhine. 

Standing at the airport as Mr Annan arrived, Buddhist protesters which included many Buddhist monks, carried placards reading "no to foreigners' biased intervention in our Rakhine State's affairs". Many booed and shouted "no Kofi-led investigation". 

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.