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.

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.

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:

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.

An explosion on a minibus near the Cilvegozu border post on the Turkish side of its border with Syria has killed 13 people.

"It was a powerful explosion. But whether this was a vehicle laden with explosives or another type of explosion, I think, at the latest, will become clear tomorrow," said Turkish deputy prime minister Bulent Arinc.

For the first time since July 2011, the Bahraini government and opposition held talks to try to solve the political deadlock and mass protests.

The protesters, mainly of Bahrain's Shi'ite majority, had demanded that the Sunni ruling family create a consitutional monarchy and call for elections.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad has admitted that western pressure is affecting the country and said Iran is ready to enter talks.

Both Washington and Tehran have recently dropped hints about the possibility of talks over the nuclear programme.

Swiss authorities have refused to re-open a case examining corruption accusations leveraged against Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari, reported Pakistan's law ministry.

The British Home Secretary Theresa May warned on Friday that an independent Scotland would have to earn trust before intelligence on terrorism and organised crime would be shared by other countries.

After independence, it could not expect to exchange intelligence with Westminister as currently takes place, she explained.

Twenty Tibetan protesters have been detained in the ethnic Tibetan area of Qinghai, announced the Chinese government.

The Tibeten protestors are calling for Beijing to allow greater religious freedom and the return from exile of the Dalai Lama.

A rocket attack on an Iranian dissident camp in Iraq has killed six people and injured dozens.

UN officials confirmed the attacks on Camp Hurriya, a former US base, currently used by Mujahadin-e-Khalq (MeK), an Iranian group calling for regime change in Tehran.

An Israeli football club’s move to sign Muslim players has resulted in its offices subjected to an arson attack.

No injuries were reported, however extensive damage was caused to Beitar Jerusalem’s administrative offices.

There were sporadic instances of violence in Tunis on Friday, as police and mourners clashed at the funeral of the assassinated opposition leader, Chokri Belaid.

Over 50,000 Tunisians came out onto the streets in Belaid's home district of Jebel al-Jaloud in Tunis.