Libya's new authorities announced the capture of Bani Walid, the former stronghold of Muammar Gaddafi, on Wednesday.

The authorities state that all military operations have now ceased, and the troops will now be providing security and aid.

The announcement came after fighting that has forced hundreds of to flee into neigbouring towns.

Russia has condemned the US for its human rights record and accused it of double standards.

At a presentation by the foreign ministry’s human rights envoy, the ministry criticised the continued operation of Guantanamo Bay and the use of the death penalty by the US.

The presentation also claimed that the US only took up human rights issues in order to interfere in the affairs of sovereign states.

The head of UN peacekeeping has stated that they are preparing for the event of a ceasefire in Syria, after the UN and Arab League’s international peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi’s visit to the country.

The head of UN peacekeeping, Herve Ladsous, stated that,

"I would confirm that, of course, we are giving a lot of thought to what would happen if and when a political solution or at least a ceasefire would emerge”

The emir of Qatar became the first head of state to visit the Gaza strip on Tuesday, which has been under blockade and largely shunned since Hamas came to power in 2007.

After a grand reception and welcome of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and his wife, the Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, made his address, stating:

The human rights progress in Tunisia has started to regress under the current government, warned Amnesty International, as the country marked the first anniversary of free and fair democratic elections.

Although last year’s elections were widely praised, reforms, including the release of political prisoners and new laws on press freedom, have not been maintained, said Amnesty International.

The British High Commissioner to India, James Bevan, has met with Gujarat’s chief minister, Narendra Modi, ending a 10-year boycott of the controversial minister.

Modi was accused of complicity in riots that killed over 1,000 Muslims in 2002, with several Western governments suspending ties with him.

The UK has now changed this policy and said its interests are better served by engagement.

Protests have left at least 20 people injured in the Kosovan capital of Pristina, after protestors demonstrated against Kosovan talks with Serbia, launched last week.

Tear gas was fired by police at the rally, organised by Kosovo's Self-Determination party, whilst protestors chanted, Shame!" and "No bargain with Serbia!", outside Kosovan Prime Minister Hashim Thaci’s office.

He met with his Serbian counterpart, Ivica Dacic last week as the two countries look to improve relations.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) have accused Yemeni state security forces of threatening health care in the southern port city of Aden by forcibly removing wounded patients, allegedly militants, from hospitals.

Exchanges of gunfire and beating of medical staff has resulted in one hospital in Aden suspending operations.

The local elections in the Basque Country have resulted in a win for nationalist parties, according to exit polls.

The conservative Basque National Party is expected to win most seats in the regional parliament, with Euskal Herria Bildu, a left-leaning alliance of separatist parties, came a close second.