The UN Security Council has agreed to proposals by secretary-general Ban Ki-moon to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons by a target of the middle of next year. France’s UN ambassador Gerard Araud and Russia’s delegate Vitaly Churkin said after closed consultations that the 15 council members decided to authorise the plan proposed by

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has said Washington’s suspension of military aid to Egypt was by no means a withdrawal from relations. His remarks came after Egypt’s Army-backed government critized the U.S. decision and insisted that it will not bow to U.S. pressure.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chun Ping has called for social reconciliation and national stability in Egypt as soon as possible. The call comes in the wake of the decision to dissolve the Muslim Brotherhood, as well as the announcement of Mohamed Morsy’s much-anticipated trial on 4 February. Ping also …