A bomb explosion has killed at least sixty people south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. Officials say a bomber blew up an explosives-laden fuel truck at a crowded checkpoint in the city of Hillah. Over 70 others were also injured. Daesh terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the attack. A similar explosion at a checkpoint on the outskirts of Hillah killed 50 people and wounded more than 150 others in March 2014.

German media say a confidential NATO analytical report has praised Russia’s anti-terror airstrikes in Syria as accurate and efficient.

Saudi Arabia renews its call for the removal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from office as the UN envoy announces the restart of Syria peace talks next week.

The Vatican admits there are still numerous cases of child sex abuse by priests which are not revealed due to cultural situations and silence.

The United Nations special envoy for Syria has rejected foreign interference in the fate of the Syrian president. Staffan de Mistura said the fate of Bashar al-Assad should be determined by the Syrian nation and without foreign interference. He added that the solution to the conflict in Syria should be Syrian-led and Syrian-owned. The UN envoy also voiced optimism about the recent ceasefire in Arab country, saying it has led to a sharp reduction in the number of deaths despite continued breaches, which he described as minor. He added that prior to the truce, up to 120 people were being killed each day. He also said that over the past ten days more than 240 humanitarian trucks have been able to reach seven besieged areas across Syria while noting that more needs to be done to reach other areas under siege.

Syrian Kurdish fighters also known as YPG say foreign-backed militants are violating the ceasefire.

The Israeli army says it has killed a Palestinian woman in Jerusalem al-Quds following an attack on soldiers.

A Syrian official says the ceasefire in his country can succeed if Turkey and Saudi Arabia stop interfering and put an end to their support for militants.

Lebanon’s Hezbollah slams a decision by the Persian Gulf Arab states to designate it a terrorist group as reckless and hostile.

A Russian body overseeing the ceasefire in Syria says Turkey is trying to torpedo the peace process in the war-hit country.