DAMASCUS -- Qatar officially reopened its embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus on Saturday, raising its national flag over the building for the first time in 13 years.

In the upscale Abu Rummaneh neighborhood of Damascus, workers were seen cleaning the embassy compound and removing graffiti from its walls. (Syria-Qatari Embassy-Reopening)

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TEHRAN -- At least 10 people were killed and 17 others injured on Saturday as a bus plunged into a ravine in the western Iranian province of Lorestan, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

Just after noon, the provincial emergency medical services (EMS) received the report of the incident, which occurred on an intercity road in Poldokhtar County, Fars said, citing Ali Mohammadi, public relations director of the EMS organization. (Iran-Bus Accident-Casualties)

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GAZA -- Leaders of three Palestinian factions have agreed that a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip is "closer than ever" if Israel stops setting new conditions, Hamas said on Saturday.

These remarks followed a meeting in Cairo on Friday among leaders from Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, according to a statement from Hamas. (Gaza Strip-Ceasefire Agreement)

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TEHRAN -- The Iranian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that a staff member of the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus has been killed by "terrorists."

In a statement, ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei extended condolences for the "martyrdom" of the embassy's staff member, who was killed on Dec. 15 after "terrorists" fired on his car. (Iran-Embassy Staff-Death) Enditem

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