High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Angela Kane briefed the Security Council this morning on chemical weapons in Syria, in particularly followup in resolution 2118. After the conclusion of the joint OPCW-UN mission late last year, this is the first briefing for her to the Council, Kane told the reporters.

The Egyptian armed forces announced that they killed 11 militants during the period from 3 to 5 January. Two of them were killed in Al-Arish, eight in Sheikh Zuweid, and one in Rafah, according to a Tuesday statement by the military spokesman.

A suicide female bomber blew up hereself at the tourist police station in the historic Sultanahmet district, downtown Istanbul, on Tuesday. The blast killed a police officer, beside the assailant, and injured two policemen, including one seriously.