Keith Adams

Inaugurating a new settlement last month, it's Israel's far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, who's pushing through changes.

This is our land, our state.

We are here.

We're going to be here forever.

Citing biblical ties to this area, the minister's announced a series of steps, including new land registration rules.

As he tightens Israel's hold on the West Bank, he talks of dismantling the Palestinian Authority.

After passing an Israeli military checkpoint, I'm in Ramallah, the administrative capital of the internationally backed Palestinian Authority.

Over 30 years since it was set up, it's failed to deliver on statehood.

Political stagnation, corruption and security coordination with Israel had already made the PA unpopular.

Now it looks increasingly weak.

Sabri Saidim is a former PA minister and a leader in the president's Fatah party.

Across the valley, we see soldiers firing tear gas.

Israel's army says villagers threw stones.

While little world attention is being paid to daily realities in the West Bank, locals warn the danger of widespread unrest is rising.

Yolande Nell.

To North Korea, where the country's biggest political gathering, the Workers' Party Conference, is taking place.

The country's leader, Kim Jong-un, opened the event on Thursday.

He told thousands of attending delegates that he's filled with optimism for the future.

The gathering, which only takes place once every five years, is used to make significant announcements on things like foreign policy and military goals.

And according to some analysts, it comes at a time when North Korea is in its strongest position for many years.