The United Nations Secretary General, pledged support to the Palestinian unity government that was formed between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, during a visit to Gaza on Tuesday, reports Reuters.

“We stand by you, the international community supports your government’s efforts to assume the security and governance responsibility in Gaza," said Ban Ki Moon.

The government of South Sudan has signed a Joint Communique with the United Nations that outlines steps it will take to tackle the issue of sexual violence in conflict.

The agreement comes as the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Zainab Hawa Bangura, visited the region.

During her visit Bangura met with South Sudan's President Salva Kir, ministers and members of the army, as well as civil society actors including women's groups and journalists.

Pro-democracy protestors have been dispersed by police in Hong Kong, using pepper spray and riot gear.

Hundreds of police officers clashed with the mostly student protestors, who have been demanding democratic reforms.

The police said its intentions were not aimed to halt the protests, but at opening necessary roads to ease traffic disruptions.

Several people were arrested during the scuffles with police.

The Ebola virus has now claimed 4,477 lives according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The vast majority of deaths are in West Africa, but the disease has also claimed victims in Europe and the US.

WHO assistant director-general Bruce Aylward said there could be up to 10,000 new cases a week within two months if more is not done to stop the spread of the virus.

Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea are worst affected by Ebola, with 2,316 deaths in Liberia alone.

A Chinese court has sentenced 12 people to death in connection with attacks earlier this year which left dozens dead.

According to the government, attackers had stormed a police station and government offices in July, killing 37 civilians. 59 of the attackers were shot dead by security forces.

Fifteen individuals were given suspended death sentences, nine were imprisoned for life and another 20 received jail sentences ranging between four and 20 years.

The government’s Tianshan Newsv reported that they were convicted of "organising, leading or participating in organised terror crimes, homicide, illegal construction of explosive devices, arson, kidnapping and harming public safety".

Activists at the time disputed the government’s version of events, saying that Uighurs were protesting "against Chinese security forces' heavy-handed Ramadan crackdown... and extrajudicial use of lethal force in recent weeks in the county".

Turkey will be allowing the United States and coalition forces to use its military bases in the fight against Islamic State, and has also agreed for moderate Syrian rebels to be trained on its soil.

Although Turkey has so far refused to send troops into Syria, MPs voted to allow foreign forces to use its bases for activities in Syria and Iraq.

The development was announced by US National Security Adviser Susan Rice, although Turkey is yet to to publicly confirm the news.

At least 22 members of the Afghan security forces have been killed after an ambush on their convoy by Taliban militants in the Sar-e-Pol province, in the north of the country.

Officials say 22 Taliban fighters died in the ensuing fire fight.

The attack came after Nato said it had killed "eight armed enemy combatants" in airstrikes, however villagers said seven civilians, including a nine-year-old child, died in the attack.

The civilian deaths would be the first caused by air strikes since the new government came to power last month.

British lawmakers voted overwhelmingly in favour of officially recognising Palestine as a state, in a vote held in Parliament on Monday.

274 Members of Parliament voted in favour of the resolution “this House believes that the Government should recognise the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel as a contribution to securing a negotiated two state solution.” 12 MPs voted against it.

Prime Minister David Cameron, alongside other government ministers abstained from the vote, with Middle East Minister Tobias Ellwood stating the UK would recognise Palestine as a state when it is "appropriate for the peace process". The Prime Minister's spokesman had also earlier said that the vote would have no impact on UK foreign policy, no matter the outcome.

The vote comes after Sweden became the first sitting member of the European Union to recognise the state of Palestine. Scotland had earlier called on the United Kingdom government to follow suit, inviting Palestine to open its first European Consulate in Edinburgh.