Syria's Assad 'wants talks while fighting terrorism'
More teasers from AFP's interview with Assad
Assad vows to retake whole of Syria
This just in from AFP who are publishing an exclusive interview with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad today.
This comment comes after world powers agreed a temporary "cessation of hostilities" in Syria.
Syrian rebels greet truce deal with guarded optimism
Syria's moderate, Western-backed opposition have reacted with guarded optimism to the news that world powers have reached a deal to push for a "cessation of hostilities" in Syria, The Guardian reports.
But the rebels questioned the real impact of the proposed truce, since it excludes Al-Qaeda's Syria affiliate the Al-Nusra Front, which operates in large swathes of Syria.
The rebels were also skeptical that Russia would keep its part of the deal.
Man admits plotting to use moped in IS-inspired London drive-by shooting
A defendant accused of plotting to use a moped in a series of IS-inspired shootings in London has changed his plea to guilty.
Tarik Hassane, 22, admitted conspiracy to murder and preparation of terrorist acts right before his defense was about to start making their case in London's Old Bailey today.
The judge has told the jury to formally find Hassane guilty.
Three other co-accused, Nyall Hamlett, 25, Nathan Cuffy, 26, and Suhaib Majeed, 21, from West London, continue to deny the charges.
RIA Novosti claims UN asks FT to correct reporting of Ban's comments on Russia's role in Syria
The war of words in the media over the Syrian crisis continues this afternoon, as pro-Kremlin news agency RIA Novosti reports that the UN has asked the Financial Times to issue a correction of comments from a Feb. 5 interview with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon regarding Russia's participation in the Syrian conflict.
RIA claims that it has obtained a letter from Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric making the request to the FT.
According to RIA, Dujarric said that some of Ban's comments regarding Russia's role in the failure of the Syria peace talks and the worsening of the humanitarian situation in Syria had been taken out of context.
RIA approached the FT for comment but the newspaper refused to issue any statement, RIA says.
Russia's Foreign Ministry has complained vociferously about the FT interview with Ban, saying that the interview had given the impression that Ban had "placed responsibility on Russia for the failure of the intra-Syrian talks in Geneva and the worsening of the humanitarian situation in that country."
Cessation of hostilities in Syria lets Russia keep bombing
Reuters has more on what the "cessation of hostilities" in Syria will mean on the ground.
If implemented, the deal would allow humanitarian aid to reach besieged towns. It has the potential to be the first diplomatic breakthrough in a conflict that has fractured the Middle East, killed at least 250,000 people, made 11 million homeless and sent hundreds of thousands fleeing into Europe.
But by allowing fighting to rage on for at least another week, it gives the Damascus government and its Russian allies time to press on with an offensive that has transformed the conflict since the start of this month.
UN siege aid to Syria could start within 24 hours
The UN has said that it hopes to start delivering aid to some besieged areas in Syria within the next 24 hours.
The move comes after an announcement by world powers that they would push for a cessation in hostilities in a week's time.
Carter says UAE will put special forces in Syria
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter has said that the United Arab Emirates has agreed to send special forces to Syria to help develop local Sunni fighters in order to recapture the IS stronghold of Raqqa.