Explosion rocks Cairo police headquarters, killing at least 4
An Egyptian woman mourns at the blast site in front of a police headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, Jan. 24, 2014. At least four people were killed in a powerful explosion which rocked a police headquarters in downtown Cairo early Friday, according to the online edition of Al Ahram newspaper. (Xinhua/Amru Salahuddien)
Syrian peace talks shall continue, nobody will leave: UN mediator
Talks for a solution to end conflicts in Syria will continue this weekend, and neither the government delegation nor the opposition is going to withdraw, confirmed the United Nations (UN) mediator Lakhdar Brahimi in Geneva on Friday evening.
4 Syrian rockets hit eastern Lebanon
Four rockets fired from Syrian territory on Friday hit Lebanon's east Bekaa city of Hermel, causing no casualties, the state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported.
Supporters of Syrian president Assad protest in Damascus
Supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad shout slogans in Damascus, Syria, January 24, 2014. UN mediator Lakhdar Brahimi will meet delegations from the Syrian government and the opposition separately on Friday, a UN spokeswoman has confirmed. The mediator might need a few weeks to prepare for direct talks between the conflicting sides in Geneva. (Xinhua/Zhang Naijie)
Iran to build ties with all countries "officially recognized"
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday that Iran was willing to establish peaceful and normal relations with all countries it "has officially recognized."
US drone strike kills four in central Yemen
A US drone strike hit a group of people driving a car in Yemen's central province of Marib on Thursday night, killing at least four people and injuring several others, a Yemeni interior ministry official told Xinhua.
Pakistan passes terror detention law
Pakistan has passed a new law allowing its security forces to detain terror suspects for up to 90 days without disclosing their whereabouts or the allegations against them.
UN bids to let Syria sides meet
UN mediator Lakhdar Brahimi meets Syria’s warring sides behind closed doors Thursday to gauge if they are willing to sit down face-to-face after the first day of a peace conference ended in bitter exchanges.
Iran aims to normalize relations
Iran is negotiating with the US as part of a “constructive engagement” with the world community and wants Washington to back up its words with actions, President Hassan Rouhani said Thursday.
5 killed, 18 wounded in attacks in Iraq
Two soldiers and three would-be suicide bombers were killed and 18 other soldiers wounded in separate violent attacks in eastern and central Iraq on Thursday, police and an official said.