* Tension at Temple Mount is escalating week by week Early on Friday evenings, they meet at the Temple Mount - a group of worshipers who differ from the others in appearance, and especially ideology.
* Police pelted by rocks atop Temple Mount Israeli forces briefly clashed with rock-throwing Muslims atop the Temple Mount Friday.
* Kerry: We are closer to peace than we have been in years Both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas are committed to continuing peace talks.
* Nelson Mandela death: South Africa and world mourn South Africans have gathered in Johannesburg and Soweto to mourn their former leader, Nelson Mandela, who died on Thursday aged 95.
* Syrian opposition alleges new poison gas attack Opposition activists again accused President Bashar Assad's forces of using poison gas in Syria's civil war.
* Egypt reportedly to declare Muslim Brotherhood 'terrorist organization' Egyptian media reported Thursday that the government is preparing to deem the Muslim Brotherhood "a terrorist organization".
* Capt. of IDF unit that lost soldier to sniper: 'We're leaving Hebron quieter than we found it' After seven grueling months of service in Hebron, Capt. Dvir Alami, 26, feels confident his unit is leaving the area safer than when it arrived.
* Russia and Ukraine leaders seek partnership treaty Mr Yanukovych flew from China to Sochi in southern Russia for the meeting.
* Hagel assures Gulf allies US not naive on Iran The US is entering the new nuclear pact with Iran "very clear eyed".
* How Egypt's Gen. al-Sisi Won TIME's Person of the Year Poll When TIME announced on Thursday that Egypt's Defense Minister, Gen. Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, had topped TIME's 2013 Person of the Year poll with more than 440,000 votes his supporters were triumphant.