Isis territory shrinks by 30% in Iraq and Syria

Islamic States (Isis) territory shrank by 40 percent from its maximum expansion in Iraq, and by 20 percent in Syria in 2015, as international forces pushed it out of several cities, the US-led coalition fighting it said on 5 January. Jan 6, 2016

Saudi Arabia UN envoy urges Iran to mend ties

Saudi Arabia said on 4 January it would restore ties with Iran when it stopped meddling in the affairs of other countries and pledged that Riyadh would continue to work very hard to support bids for peace in Syria and Yemen despite the spat. Jan 5, 2016