* US special forces kill senior ISIS commander in Syria raid Pentagon confirms rare raid by US special forces kills Abu Sayyaf while Syrian state media reported earlier that Assad forces killed a top commander who they identified as Abu al-Teem al-Saudi.
* Israel and Iran's mutual friend Azerbaijan insists that it is neutral when it comes to its warring allies, maintaining firm ties in Moscow and Washington, Jerusalem and Tehran.
* Chlorine Emerges As Brutal Weapon of War in Syria First used in World War I, gas causes victims to suffer from 'dry land drowning'.
* Russia Says It Can Deploy Nuclear Arms to Crimea Russia's envoy to the NATO alliance said on Friday that Moscow will bolster military forces in occupied Ukraine, and is not banned from deploying nuclear arms in Crimea.
* Islamic State Terror Handbook Trains Western Jihadis To Avoid Capture Affiliates of the Islamic State terror group are distributing a new handbook aimed to help Western jihadis avoid capture by the police and train them to clandestinely build bombs and transport weapons, according to a review of the guide, which is being distributed across the Internet as an e-book.
* Iran will protect Palestinians, other 'oppressed' people in Middle East, Khamenei says An increasingly tense standoff between Iran and Saudi Arabia has added a sectarian dimension to regional conflicts.
* Mohammed Morsi, Egypt's ex-leader, sentenced to death An Egyptian court has pronounced death sentences on ousted president Mohammed Morsi and more than 100 other people over a mass prison break in 2011.
* Islamic State crisis: Iraq sends troops to Ramadi Iraq is sending military reinforcements to the city of Ramadi, a day after Islamic State (IS) militants seized key buildings there.
* Pope calls Abbas 'angel of peace' during Vatican visit Francis meets with PA chief after Holy See's decision to acknowledge Palestinian state angers Jerusalem.
* Church of Scotland votes to allow gay ministers in civil partnerships The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has voted to allow congregations to ordain gay ministers who are in same sex civil partnerships.