The Egyptian stock market took a plunge Sunday, the first day it was open since the president's announcement of his widening powers and exemption from judicial review.

The decree has sparked protests and strong opposition.

Leaders of four African countries have called on M23 rebels to stop fighting and withdraw from the city of Goma, in the east of the Democratic Reublic of Congo (DRC).

President Kabila of the DRC, and the presidents of Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya met in Kampala on Sunday. Rwanda was represented by its foreign minister.

The Basque separatist group ETA called on the Spanish and French governments to hold discussions towards dis-arming, ceasing military operations, and the return of ETA prisoners to the Basque region.

Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi has faced strong opposition, following a decree issued on Thursday, that consolidated power over the judiciary with the president.

Amidst protests in Cairo square, prominent Egyptian democracy advocate Mohammed ElBaradei called on the president revoke the decree that granted him near absolute powers over the judiciary.

Ahead of a pivotal election on Sunday, Artur Mas, Catalonia's president, outlined his views on the call for independence. Highlighting the rejection of Catalonia's call for greater tax-raising powers, assaults on the teaching of the Catalan language at schools and the dire Spanish economy, Mas pledged to hold a referendum on independence if he was to be re-elected.

Bahrain has convicted 23 medics who were involved in last year’s protest against the kingdom’s regime.

The medics were either sentenced to three months in prison or a fine.

The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant on Thursday for Simone Gbagbo for alleged crimes against humanity, urging her to surrender. 

Simone Gbagbo is a politician and the wife of the Ivory Coast's former president, Laurent Gbagbo, and campaigned for him during his presidential campaign.

Capitalising on his role in brokering a truce in the Israel-Gaza conflict, Egypt's President Mursi declared on Thursday that his decisions could not be challenged until a new constitution was agreed upon.

In a statement, the presidential spokesperson said:

Nato has said it will look at Turkey’s request to deploy Patriot missiles along its border with Syria.

The bloc’s chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that the request would be considered “without delay”.

Rasmussen said on Wednesday that he had received a request for the deployment on Wednesday.

The United Nations Security Council unanimously passed a resolution calling for sanctions to be placed on M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The passing of Resolution 2076, which was drafted by France, comes after rebels stormed Goma, the capital city of North Kivu province, despite UN combat helicopters assisting DRC forces.

The Kazakh government has moved towards a ban on the two opposition movements and media outlets supportive of the opposition, reported Reuters on Wednesday.

After eight days of conflict, a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas took hold late on Wednesday evening, although distrust and singular attacks continued after the truce took effect at 9pm.

The deal has momentarily suspended the Israeli threat of a ground invasion of Gaza after bombing and rocket fire left 162 Gazans, including 37 children, and 5 Israelis dead.