Syrian Opposition Drops Call For Assad To Step Down

The United States has welcomed an agreement between Syrian opposition groups on a common approach towards peace talks with the government. After a meeting in Saudi Arabia, the opposition has dropped a previous demand that President Bashar al-Assad step down before talks can begin.

A British explorer Mark Evans and his two Omani colleagues have started a 50-day walking expedition that will take them across the world's largest sand desert, the Empty Quarter, in the southern Arabian peninsula.

North and South Korea have held high-level talks in the latest effort to ease tensions following an armed stand-off in August. It's thought South Korea wants more regular reunions for families separated by the Korean War over sixty years ago while North Korea would like the South to resume lucrative tours to its Diamond Mountain resort.

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