Israeli troops clashed with Palestinian protesters on Friday, outside an Israeli prison in the occupied West Bank.

OVer 300 protesters who had gathered by the Ofer prison to show their support for Palestinians detained inside threw stones at the Israeli troops who used stun grenades, tear gas and fired rubber bullets into the crowd to break up the protest.

A spokesperson for the Israeli military said:

"The soldiers, feeling immediate danger, fired in the air," 

"The incident is being reviewed."

Reuters reports that Palestinian medical officials said two protesters suffered injuries from live gunfire.

A "viable" pipe bomb was found by Forth River Primary school in Belfast on Friday.

Police said that the device was found by a member of the public in Forth River Road at approximately 3pm. The spokesperson for the Police Service of Northern Ireland said:

“Army technical experts attended and confirmed it to be a viable pipe bomb-type device.”

Last month, a similar device was found at a community building by Shore Road.

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:

"Several witnesses have described how the accused was present in the massacres,"

"In this court's view, there are also several other circumstances in the case which together support the conclusion that the defendant supported and participated in the genocide which took place in Kibungo."

Bugingo was granted residency in 2005, after arriving in Norway in 2001 to be with his family who had fled Rwanda previously.

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.

See here for coverage on the New York Times' blog.

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.

The announcement was made by the Constitutional Affairs Minister, Eric Matinenga, who said:

"I can confirm 16 March is the tentative referendum date,"

"I've indicated that maybe there's a need to rethink so that at least we have two days of voting for the referendum."

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.

An 89-page report detailed ongoing failures by the police along with allegations of violent behaviour by police, especially against women and girls living in communities along Highway 16 which has come to be called northern British Columbia's 'Highway of Tears'.

Women's rights researcher at HRW, Meghan Rhoad said:

“The threat of domestic and random violence on one side, and mistreatment by RCMP officers on the other, leaves indigenous women in a constant state of insecurity. Where can they turn for help when the police are known to be unresponsive and, in some cases, abusive.”

See here for full HRW press release.

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:

"Mindful of my own security and stability in the Indian Ocean, I have taken refuge at the Indian High Commission in Maldives."

An arrest warrant was issue by a local magistrate's court after Mr Nasheed failed to appear for a hearing.

Supporters of the former president believe that the trial is an attempt to prevent him from leading the Maldivian Democratic Party into upcoming elections.

See here for full report on the Telegraph.

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 danger posed by North Korea's threatening activities warrants further swift and credible action by the international community. The United States will also continue to take steps necessary to defend ourselves and our allies,"

In a statement China said:

"We strongly urge North Korea to abide by its non-nuclear commitment and not to take any further actions that would worsen the situation."

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. 

Hagit Ofran from the Peace Now settlement watchdog commented that,

"Even though there is not yet a new government in place they are still allowing settlement procedures to continue instead of putting them on hold which is a telling sign about this new government".

Meanwhile Nabil Abu Rdainah, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stated,

"The Palestinian position is clear. There can be no negotiation while settlement continues".

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:

"I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering.

"However, in today's world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to steer the ship of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil the ministry entrusted to me.

"For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is."

Hundreds of protesters marched to Egypt's presidential palace on the second anniversary of the fall of Hosni Mubarak, causing clashes with security forces.

Police fired tear gas and water cannons on the stone throwing protesters marching against current president Mohamed Morsi.

Opposition groups state that President Morsi has betrayed the revolution and shouted slogans calling for his ousting as well as spraying graffiti on the palace walls.

One protestor, Ahmed Farghaly, said,

"We may be few in numbers but we will not back down from fighting criminals dressed up in police uniform".